Selecting an ideal species of catfish to keep as a pet is of vital importance when keeping one. Though some varieties may be illegally imported and should never enter your tank, most concerns about pet catfish stem from size issues; all fish start out small; however some catfish species can outgrow most home aquariums much quicker and are better suited to public aquariums than small private ones. Always do your research prior to keeping any particular catfish species as this will help ensure their long and happy lives!
Short Answer: Yes; Long Answer: Dependent upon which species and aquarium size. The primary consideration when keeping catfish as pets is their growth potential – which varies between species, as all start out small but often outgrow that size quickly. No matter what a pet store tells you, do your own research and select your species carefully in terms of potential size when an adult species emerges and how big an aquarium they will require for housing them.
Selecting catfish species for your aquarium usually depends on how much space is available in your tank, with research often needed to select an ideal species for that space. If in doubt, do not buy the fish being eyed – instead do more research!
What Do Catfish Require for Their Environment? Catfishes are predominantly bottom-dwellers. Although some may spend some time swimming through the midwater column, catfish use their barbels (full of taste buds) to find food buried deep within the substrate – as such, your catfish needs access to bottom water levels if it wants to thrive and feed on tasty morsels buried therein. Most aquarium setups should provide sufficient access for your catfish; heavily planted tanks may become problematic with regards to access.
Substrates designed for catfish should be of lighter material. Aquarium gravel to medium sand should work for most catfish species. Larger rocks can become problematic for smaller catfish; larger catfish have even been known to swallow rocks whole! Species like plecos like nibbling on soft wood pieces; just make sure it meets aquarium safety regulations as some types can release harmful chemicals into your aquarium water supply.