Small aquarium catfish such as corydoras, otocinclus and young plecos do best on sinking foods that reach the bottom of the tank, plus some vegetable matter and the occasional frozen or live treat. Feed small portions once or twice a day, and only what they finish in a few minutes.
Best Foods for Small Catfish
- Sinking pellets or granules. Choose a small size that fits a small mouth. Corydoras do well on a quality sinking pellet as a staple.
- Sinking wafers. Useful for plecos and other algae eaters.
- Frozen or live foods. Bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia are good protein treats. Offer them a couple of times a week.
- Blanched vegetables. Zucchini, cucumber and spinach suit plecos and other herbivorous catfish. Remove leftovers after a day.
How Often and How Much
- Feed once or twice daily.
- Give an amount the fish finish in 2 to 3 minutes. Many catfish are most active at dusk, so evening feeding after the lights go down works well.
- Skip one feeding day a week if the tank looks overfed.
- Remove uneaten food, since it fouls the water.
Make Sure the Catfish Actually Get Fed
Fast surface-feeding fish often grab food first. Feed the surface fish, then drop sinking food in once they are done, or feed after lights out. Watch the catfish’s bellies to see if they are getting enough: they should look gently rounded, not sunken or bloated.
Tank Tips
- Use smooth sand or fine gravel for bottom feeders.
- Keep corydoras in groups of at least 5 or 6.
- Test water regularly and keep up with partial water changes.
Related Reading
See our guides to sinking tropical fish food, Purina sinking catfish food and cheap catfish food.
Bottom Line
Pick a small sinking pellet or wafer as the staple, add vegetables and a few frozen treats, and feed small amounts. Clean water matters as much as the food.
