This article is from the Aquaria: Good (and Bad) First Fish; Breeding FAQ, by Dean Hougen and Elaine Thompson
Catfish don't have long whiskers for looks. They are there to help
them hunt for their food - other fish! In addition to eating all fish
of less than half their size in the tank, many of the piscivorous
(fish-eating) Cats will outgrow most tanks. One common species of
long-whiskered catfish, the Pictus Cat - Pimelodus pictus grows to 10"
while the Channel Cat (a pink form is often seen) grows over 2 feet
long. Shovelnose Cats are usually only seen at six inches or greater,
so the beginner does have some warning with these. Still, one might
not expect them to get 2 or 3' long.
 
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