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FAQs on Catfish Behavior

Related Catfish FAQs: General, Identification, Compatibility, Selection, Systems, Feeding, Disease, Reproduction,

Most catfish are rather sedentary, but some are almost always moving! Cetopsis coecutiens is one of these latter.

Bullying Mulitpunctatus Catfish
Thanks again for all of your priceless assistance. I am not sure what to do with my Synod Multis. In a Malawi 90 gallon I have 3 Synos- a Eupterus and 2 Multis. The slightly smaller (3.5"), but longer resident, Multi seems to chase the more recently introduced Multi a lot. At first I thought, give it some time, but a few weeks later it is still going on as intensely. I have never noticed any scars or wounds on the Multi, just that lately it seems to rest more than usual in strange positions, leaning on things at times. At feeding time, he still swims around the bottom and eats. I am not sure what the best course to take is. There are definitely enough caves, but the bully Multi almost seems to seek him out at times. I have read they are schooling fish somewhat, would adding another Multi or two help? I also have a 55 Tanganyikan tank where I could move him, except this
tank is full of 1-2" juveniles, including a 2" Syno Angelicus (which is my favorite catfish of all and I don't want to endanger him). Any advice greatly appreciated.
>> It will help to add more Multis. I would try to have a group of 5 fish that are around the same size. They will chase each other also, but not only one fish will be under constant stress.
Good Luck, Oliver

Killer Catfish?
Thank you! You really put my mind at ease. I love my 3 aquariums even if they got a little neglected when I had a baby last August (never to the point of bad water or disrepair, just not as diligent as I had been). Now that I am turning my attention fully back to my aquatic pets, I have one more question and I'll leave you alone. I have done a lot of research on this, but haven't come to a conclusion. I have an unplanted 55 gallon tank with two 330 Penguin BioWheel filters with a 4.5 year old silver tip shark catfish (Mack the Knife) and a large Pleco (Rainbow Barrone, Jr.). He had been coexisting with one Oscar who succumbed to old age. My husband was pretty heartbroken by Salvador the Oscar dying, so he didn't want another one. I got a Jack Dempsey, but Mack apparently killed him one night in a territory dispute. Short story long, is there any other species that would be compatible with Mack, or should I just leave him and Rainbow in there alone?
< If Mack is going to kill all the new fish then I think leaving him alone is the best way to go>
Also, I've noticed Rainbow sucking on Mack lately. Is this a harmful practice? Should I separate them? Mack doesn't seem to mind as he just lays there. Thanks again!
< Plecos have mouth parts for scrapping algae of things like rocks and wood. They will also scrape the protective slime off fish and can be a problem for fish like discus and angels. Little Cory cats on the other hand are just looking for bits of left over food and are harmless.-Chuck>

Are my fish pregnant?
Hi my name is Catt Roden, I was just wondering if you could help me, my catfish keeps trying to bury itself at the bottom of the tank. I have had my two catfish for 6 months and do not know much about them, so I was wondering if it may be pregnant. If so what should I do with the tank and how can I help my two fish? If not could you tell me why it is doing that? Thank you, Catt Roden
<Catt... what type of catfish are these? If you know part of their name, try plugging this in to fishbase.org and learn more re their life habits... Many catfishes DO dig in the substrate... some live a good part of the time under it in the wild. I doubt if your fish are actually pregnant... Study my friend... learn the scientific name of your fish, their husbandry... Bob Fenner>

Three Line Cory Catfish question
Thank you so much you have helped me in the past, I hope you can again. This
Cory catfish started acting funny, he is constantly going up and down, but
not for the usual gulps of air, just blindly bumping into everyone else up
around and down.
<Mmm, may well be interacting with its reflection... in your aquarium walls. Corydoras Catfishes are extremely social... do best in groupings>
All the water parameters are ok and all the other fish are
ok too, so is one other Cory catfish. Do you have any idea what this might
be, I figured if it's a parasite or something the other fish will be
affected. Thanks again for your time and your insight.
<If you have room, I would add another two or more of this species. Bob Fenner>

Re: Three Line Cory Catfish question
Thanks for the speedy reply. I wanted to add that this Cory bumps into other
fish swimming while he flutters/scutters like on a roller coaster along the
glass.
<Not atypical>
Zooms up and down however he slows down enough to not hurt his
barbels when close to surface, but when in water he bumps into other fish,
did I say that twice.
<Yes, yes>
He has 1 buddy and he completely ignores him, the
other just works all the time, rarely I see him tries to follow other but
there' no pattern and goes back to working. I do have reflection on the
glass but do you think that might be the cause with him bumping around?
Thanks for your patience. By the way Happy New Year!
<Yes, and thanks much. All will likely be fine in time. Bob Fenner>

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