good for him, bad for me. I had a 3" banjo catfish I put in my 36 gallon bowfront tank with lots of barbs and such but it had a rock substrate so he would wedge himself inbetween a couple fake wood decorations during the day but I could see him which was pleasing because I knew he was healthy. I had set up a small dish with sand but he never seemed interested. I recently finished setting up a 65 gallon tank with mostly sand substrate and plants and after a week or so I decided to move the banjo to the 65 thinking he'd like the sand. I was right, he immediately darted to the sand and wiggled his way underneath. He seems to love the sand although I never see him anymore. I can only find a lump or dark line from his tail in the sand. I guess he's happy though. A warning though, their fins are SHARP! I couldn't get to him to net him so I was going to coax him out of his hiding place with my hand so I reached in and lightly nudged him with my finger but he didn't budge so I nudged some more and ended up just pushing him across the floor when all of a sudden he curled up around my finger stabbing my finger with his front fins (don't know the name for them). they're basically rosethorns. I thought he would release but I finally gave up and pulled him out of the water with my hand and finally got him to release halfway across the room. beware, they are painful, hehe. Kyle
new home for banjo cat
- Thread starter snakeskinner
- Start date
Cool, I am finally setting up a 55 and was thinking of using sand for my banjo. They are very cool, but they do like to hide.
I can usually find where he is since the top spines on his tail normally are above the sand so I look for a dark line in the sand. sometimes his nose will be stuck out. My parents were over last night and my mother was trying to see him so I finallly stuck a scraper under the sand and lifted him out. she wasn't sure he was alive for a while till he finally was annoyed from the lights and shot under a rock. I think he's one of the better catfish since most get too large, aggressive or bothersome to other fish. Kyle
i thought the banjo cats looked cool but are they entertaining fish to have. ya'll were saying that they just hide alot. i was thinking of getting one which is why i ask.
They are mostly active at night. I think I read that in the wild they burrow under a couple of inches of leaves until they smell food. Chances are, you won't see him moving around much. I see mine moving around in the day every now and then. Mostly when it is changing hiding spots. It will hide anywhere from sand, wedged around the driftwood, under plant leaves, in the middle of my floating plants and even on the heater stuck to the glass (which is unplugged).
I think they are interesting because they are very unusual looking, and it will eat from my fingers. It is just fun to keep them, they are not all that entertaining to watch because they don't move much. It is fun to watch them swim though. They will suck water in and spray it out through their gills like jets to move. I think it is worth having at least one just for looks. They are very easy to care for.
I think they are interesting because they are very unusual looking, and it will eat from my fingers. It is just fun to keep them, they are not all that entertaining to watch because they don't move much. It is fun to watch them swim though. They will suck water in and spray it out through their gills like jets to move. I think it is worth having at least one just for looks. They are very easy to care for.
I also think mine helps keep the sand mixed up since it burrows every day in a new place. I can always find where my banjo is since the ridge on his tail is always above the sand and his nose is regularly out as well. last night I found him in an unusual spot hanging on a plant but I'm unsure why unless he was disturbed by another tankmate. My only concern is that he is eating because I can never witness it but he stays fat so he must be eating something (maybe my ghost shrimp that have all disappeared). Kyle