Red Tail Catfish constant hiding?

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Oct 2, 2018
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Hello I currently have a baby red tail catfish and all it does is constantly hide all day. I want to be able to hand feed it but it seems like it would rather spend all day under rocks. I know they are nocturnal, but most youtube videos I see of them, they are active and about when there's light. Most people don't keep big rocks for them to hide under. Most of the time they get too big to fit under anything in the aquariums. Would it negatively affect my catfish's health to take away the hiding spot? When I bought it, he had no hiding spots and seemed to be doing just fine.
 
Thats what cat fish do. That is why people dont use decoration in tanks wherr they want to see their cat fish. They are pretty hardy it would be able to handle no decor. If that's what you want. You will have to judge by its behavior. Good luck
+1
 
If you take away the hide, don't use the tank lights or any bright light or at least give it some plant cover, plastic or not. It will lose the need to hide after it gets on some size, perhaps at least 6"-8", maybe 10". Which won't be long if you do everything else right by the fish.

If it is bullied or can be bullied by tank mates, the hide may save its life and/or health.
 
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