Training Light-Sensitive Species

[mr.bigglesworth]

Some may call it torture, others a breakthrough, but make no mistake; using this method CORRECTLY and APPROPRIATELY on HEALTHY individuals, you WILL notice results in about a month.

This thread is about training light sensitive species of fish including catfish in an attempt to raise their tolerance for the amount of light in a tank.

I used this method on my adult South American Bumblebee Catfish and in about a month i noticed results which included:
1: little to no hiding
2: Active and out & about when the lights are on
3: The ability to watch it eat when the lights are on

The Procedure:
I used my in-tank floating breeder box and a 300 watt metal halide fixture. I placed the catfish in the box with no hiding places and secured it right below the center of the light for full effectiveness. Then i turned it on and left the catfish inside for a full month. Panicking is completely normal and should be expected for at least the first few days. I also noticed washed out colors which went away after 2 days and heavy breathing which mostly went away overnight. After a month i put him back in my 20g which only has a stock fluorescent light but made sure to take out all the decor. After a week, i added 20% of the decor. No hiding. After 2 weeks, i added another 20%. 3 weeks i added another 30% of the decor bringing the total to 70%. In the 4th week i put all the decor back in to its original positioning. This process is very important otherwise the fish may have a relapse and go back to its old habits.

[necrocanis]

Sounds interesting. I've in the past just kept the tank bare bottom with catfish so that I can observe them whenever. Now I am trying to place the hiding spots to my advantage so I can view the fish whenever. I'd say this sounds like light breaking a catfish. Probably not gonna do it myself as I don't like to stress my fish, but glad it worked for you. If you turn on the lights a bit every day with a bare bottom tank eventually they get use to the light. I guess it's the same principal. I'd watch out trying this one species that are flighty though. You may stress them to the point of dying. Stuff like tsn, or brachyplatystoma species. I don't see them doing well with the lights on constantly and will freak out for very long periods. So I guess to each his own. Pick and choose which species you do this to carefully. I'd think eventually the catfish will go back to hiding unless you caused some sort of permanent eyesight damage and it cannot tell if it is dark or not.