Re: catfish/bottom feeder sugestions
#2
Blue acaras and firemouths both have a persecutory streak, so no cories or anything similar. Myself, I have a love of doradids, so a chocolate raphael would do, synos are little toughies sometimes but, still a bit soft bodied, shrimp will be eaten no matter how big, so theyre out. A good omnivorous plec might fit the bill. Basically anything with armour that has sense enough to stay mostly hidden by day will be best. Woodcats might be secretive enough as long as theres decent cover. Some of the smaller bagrids could work, their habit of shifting detritus very handy, but if they go 24 hour active on you as many bagrids will in captivity, the dayshift will be a misery for them. A larger pimelodid might work, but pictus will get chased, their rather neurotic swimming style will attract attention, and nips.They tend to panic straight out of cichlid territories and back in again seconds later, thusly ensuring they get a beating.
Basically estimate on a blue acara dominating a 40 gallon completely, so whatever catfish goes in is best off low profile, armoured, and sedentary so it wont mind being excluded from at least a cubic foot of tankspace at one end. Anything highly mobile thats swims compulsively will cop for it when passing through acara nestsites. Even then black halved drainpipes would be a good idea, making for a refuge that an acara can neither see through nor enter.
Even in nature many catfish have to tolerate aggressive cichlids, and they do so primarily by avoidance and by working the nightshift, bedding down for the days, so if you can find something that fits that niche, go for it.Anything that isnt basically sedentary is gonna get clouted in a 40 gal with acaras.