Hi! For awhile now I've had this large raphael catfish, but I never really see him unless I clean the tank. I'm worried that at night when my fish are sleeping, he slips out and eats the harlequin rasboras and small cockatoo cichlids! I know he eats any fish carcuses, because I never find them, but now I'm wondering if the fish never actually die, if maybe he just eats them. This has been going on for awhile now, and the only other fish I could think would do it is my leporinus, but I've pretty much eliminated him as a suspect because he's always been such a sweet heart, and really never bothered anyone. Plus his mouth is really small. What do you guys think?
Catfish eating other fish?
- Thread starter ppetropulo
- Start date
Leporinus are also primary herbivores, so that's another reason to make him an unlikely culprit. And yes, raphaels will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, which is a general rule for most fish that aren't pure herbivores. I was looking at my tank with a flashlight one night, and saw the spotted raphael I had come out of his hiding spot in a piece of decor. I can't remember what it was (this was a several years ago) but I know it was something artificial. Anyway, he cruised around for a minute, and I enjoyed watching it, because he hid all day, usually. Then, while next to a black neon, *gulp* one less black neon.
Oh my goodness! I can't believe you caught him in the act! Geeze, do you think maybe I should take him back? I mean, I never see him anyway, and if he's eating my fish... If I do take him back, are there any small catfish or bottom cleaners that are more likely to spend time out in the open, but still clean the tank and will probably not eat any of my fish?
That's a decision you're going to have to make, about taking him back or rehoming him. The problem is that fish tend to eat things that fit in their mouths. Most catfish have relatively large mouths, and are *not* "cleaning" fish; they're predators. You could consider ancistrus, such as bristlenose plecos or clown plecos, but they have personality, much like cichlids, and you may or may not see them. I rarely see my BN during the day. Cories are incapable of eating live fish that aren't extremely small. It's hard to say that a fish will actually clean a tank. If you're looking at algae, otos are an option, garras, various plecos, it just depends on your set up and what you like. Frankly, I think nerites do a better job on algae, anyway. Even using a flashlight, I may see my BN at night, but I haven't seen him eating algae off the glass in over a year. Other people say their BNs do a great job eating algae, even as adults. I guess your experience may be at either extreme or fall somewhere in the middle.
taken out of context, this comment is humorously useless
ppetro - you pretty much have a choice between the cat and your little fish. Sometimes nocturnal fish are fun if you have moon lights and like to have out near the tank in the dark when watching tv or gaming or whatever, but for most people, they just aren't very enjoyable
taken out of context, this comment is humorously useless
Yeah, you're right. :nilly:
Give me a break, I was multitasking! Doing 2 things at once for work, and typing that while waiting for work stuff to do what it's supposed to do.
Vincenia
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I had a spotted raphael catfish, I saw him a lot, in the corner of my tank. None of my fish vanished, surprisingly. I rehomed him after awhile. I have 2 small catfish, South American Bumblebee Catfish. I had these little guys for about 5 yrs, and they are about 3" and don't get bigger then that. They won't be able to eat other fish, mostly fry, but nothing bigger then that.
Ptrick125
Learning a lot everyday
As long as it smells good and fits in their mouth
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