Making a raphy come out

[Piscineidiot]

Hey guys,

I just recently acquired a striped raphael catfish about 3.5" long, and he's in a tank that's relatively well planted, with wood, rocks and fine crushed coral (buffering the pH at 7.5). His tankmates are one sailfin and one goldspot plec (same size), one senegal bichir (same size), six juvenile geophagus pindare (roughly 2" max), two red tail chalceus (3.5-4"), a malawi eyebiter (same size), and a small pictus (2.5").

He's been in there for a couple of weeks now, and I've seen him shuffling around under a rock, but I can't get him to come out at all. I'm aware that they're crepuscular fish, and so will often only come out during dawn or dusk, but I have seen some persuaded to come out during the day.

So, my question is, does anyone here have any tricks to make them do this, or is it just a matter of letting the fella settle down?

 

[ahodge84]

I doubt you can do much besides let him settle into his new tank. Even then raphs rarely come out other than at night. Good luck!

 

[haynchinook334]

Just take out all the hiding spots and let him roam.

 

[krichardson]

I agree with the others and also keep your tank lights off as much as possible.He may make brief appearances after he settles in and learns the feeding routine,all my nocturnal cats come to a certain corner of the tankwhen I drop in the sinking pellets.They clean up and then they are gone but at least I know I can coax them out.

 

[Piscineidiot]

Ah, right, thanks guys...Maybe I should get a red/purple light for night time so that I can see them anyway?

 

[tthanatoss]

My son picked himself out a raph one time and the same thing, we nevr saw it. Kept having to convince him he was still alive in there, just hiding.

 

[uncwnells]

Just take out all the hiding spots and let him roam.

Finally someone else who thinks the same way I do. Don't give him more places to hide that just doesnt make sense. No where to hide=you see him. I would not recommend this for a permanent situation, but should be ok for a few days.

 

[packer43064]

Finally someone else who thinks the same way I do. Don't give him more places to hide that just doesnt make sense. No where to hide=you see him. I would not recommend this for a permanent situation, but should be ok for a few days.

My whole tank is BB with a single PVC that I siliconed together. He just sits in there, doesn't move or wiggle or anything. I even thought he might have died in there. I took the PVC out and he wouldn't come out. I finally got him out and he about damn poked me with his sharp spines and went crazy, lol. But, I'm happy now he is still alive.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Finally someone else who thinks the same way I do. Don't give him more places to hide that just doesnt make sense. No where to hide=you see him. I would not recommend this for a permanent situation, but should be ok for a few days.

I personally disagree with this philosophy. The first few days he's extremely stressed, and needs the hiding spots more than ever. If you are concerned about his health, then I would probably have him in a quarantine tank anyways.

Let him get used to his surroundings and try to get him on a feeding schedule. It may take a while, but no reason to stress the fish. You bought a catfish. This is just part of owning one. I highly recommend blue moon lights. There is something very cool about turning out all the lights in the house, having the blue lights on, and watching a whole different group of fish come out to play. Its like having two completely different tanks, or maybe a tank with an alter ego.

 

[Red tail catking]

Hell a tank with that much hiding places I wouldn't blame any fish to want to come out.