I recently bought some tetra's, danio's and harliquins, there were 12 in total. The fish i had in were 1 gurami, 1 angel, 2 clown loache's, 1 red tailed shark, 1 humbug catfish and 1 raphael catfish.
Everything was great for a few hours, then i noticed 1 of the tetra's had gone.
I sat in the dark for 3 hours trying to work out what was going on, because bu the end of the night 3 had gone missing!
But to my horror my catfish were behind it, my raphael which is only 2 inches was hurding them round the tank to my humbug and he was eating them!
I can' understand it, normally they have nothing to do with each other, and i've heard they are really peacefull commnity fish both of them. I just can't understand what triggered them to act like that!
They eat load's and have a varied diet.
I have since got rid of the smaller fish, because in 2 day's, they'd killed 4 of them.
Am i wrong about them, are they not to be with smaller fish or any other fish for that matter??

Apart from the corydoras and suckermouth catfish there aren't many I would trust with fish that will fit in their mouths

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What size tank do you have? Any fish that will fit in another fish's mouth will end up getting eaten unless they have sufficient room.

Remember, 1 gallon of water for each inch of fish, (and by this I mean each inch of each fish at it's maximum size). So do some homework on how large each fish species can get, how many of them you have, and add it all together.

This will be the minimum number of gallons to keep them satisfied. If you want them to live together peacefully, add 50% of your total or just double the number. That way there's plenty of room for everybody. (;

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This rule really only works for fish about 2" in length. For example 6X2" platties do not equal 1X12" Oscar. The Oscar will have a much bigger bioload. Unfortunately most of the stocking calculators do not take into account the mass of the fish.

This is the best stocking calculator I have seen, though I believe it is still in development. The author has researched a lot more than usual.
AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor

Correct.

No matter how big a tank is sooner or later most catfish will eat any other fish they can fit in their mouths, a big tank will just delay the outcome

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Didn't actually read all the individual fish. The most common reason for is a cramped tank.

And I really just meant to encourage the tank keeper to research the various fish, what space they need, and offered a rule of thumb. You don't actually measure things with your thumbs, you get an idea of what size somebody is talking about and then use your brain and resources to define how big exactly. (:

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I think most us know what the phrase 'rule of thumb' means...

Also, not meaning to go off topic, which part of the states are you from? I'm from Oregon.

i have 9 fish in a 4 foot tank, so there is no way it's cramped...
He was in with small fish before and there was never a problem, but as soon as i got the tetra's he started eating them, didn't bother the danios or harliquins, just tetra's. He is as big as he will grow, the guy who i got him off had him for 5 years.
And i researched every fish, and have read nothing about them attacking a specific species of fish, never mind working with another fish to get them.
He has planty of room and places to hide, he has everything he need's.

Your humbug isn't this humbug then?
Aquazoo - The Fish

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