125G: Firemouth Tank Suggestions

[FIU Panther]

I ended up adding a few more live bearers and a raphael cat fish, even though I read they're reclusive. I'll tell you what, I haven't seen the guy since the day I put him in, I even wiggled the drift wood a bit Saturday during their water change to see if he'd get spooked and swim out. No luck.

Do you guys think if I added a few more pieces of driftwood I'd have a better chance of seeing him out and about or is it a loss cause and I should cherish the day I ever see him again, if I ever see him again...

On a side note, the firemouth that had his tail eaten down to a nub is recovering. His tail is taking shape, I figure in another week or two I won't be able to tell which one was the one missing the tail.

 

[DawnMichele]

Here is my 125g Meeki/heterospila tank:



Obviously my Meeki are still babies, but they have grown quite a bit since that picture from April. I agree with the comments about them being all over the tank. In fact, I would say mine spend most of their time in the middle to upper parts of the tank.

GORGEOUS tank!!!!

 

[Jexnell]

Best bet to see your Raphael cat is after lights out. That is when they are active.
I only ever saw mine cause his daytime hide was in plain site.

See him wedged in the driftwood.

 

[FIU Panther]

Best bet to see your Raphael cat is after lights out. That is when they are active.
I only ever saw mine cause his daytime hide was in plain site.View attachment 1320478

See him wedged in the driftwood.

Nice spotted Ralph, the one I picked up is striped. I'd say he is about 4", give or take an inch.

I'm thinking if I fill the deeper gaps between the driftwood and the substrate with more sand it'll force him into shallower hides and I'll have a better chance of seeing him.

Do they tend to pick one hide and always come back to it in your experience?

The fiancee caught me the other night completely in the dark watching the tank with the moonlights on in hopes of seeing him come out, no luck!

 

[Jexnell]

Yes mine always came back to the same spot. It would start swimming about looking for food when the lights would go out. I caught it a lot swimming agains the current of the AC110. Right in the middle of the tank when the AC110 runs into the tank. Just swimming there in place againt the current.

 

[Jexnell]

For a while I had two of them that would cram in there.