View Full Version : Nocturnal fish WITHOUT hiding places.
JamisonBWolsh
12-07-2002, 11:02 AM
Hey...
I have a 20 gallon tank full of syd. petricola catfish. They love to hide all the time. Is there a problem with removing all hiding places For a nocturnal fish? Would this increase ther stress level? Could they ever "get used" to living in the open without a cave? Thanx for your help. This question is just not for the catfish, but for all NOCTURNAL fish.
firetank
12-07-2002, 11:09 AM
depends if you can alter thousands of years of evolution...
say i heard theres a tank additive for that....
:rolleyes:
Sharyl C
12-07-2002, 11:29 AM
LOL firetank...I agree
this goes for any fish that seeks shelter or coverage...pretty much anything but pelagics/open water species.
You may remove all the hiding places but your fish won't be happy and they will try to make hiding places, become quite skidish, or just stay huddled in the corner all the time. If they are too freaked out to move...they are too freaked out to eat...they'll get sick.
Why not try to adapt your hiding places to encourage the fish to be in view, but still in hiding. I know it sounds like an oxy-moron...but for example, a piece of slate or driftwood wedged into the gravel at the front of the tank can form a "cut-away view" of a cozy hiding space. Or thick plants...or broken terra cotta pot pieces to make semi circle caves. just use your imagination...think like a fish.
Hope this helps,
Serrateeth_2002
12-07-2002, 5:10 PM
Nocturnal fishes without hiding places are like people who see dead people,they have to hide,that's how they are designed,to see in the dark better.
JamisonBWolsh
12-07-2002, 5:19 PM
It was just a question. I have a pile of white PVC tubes (the safe kind) with lace rock and slate piled half way up tank and covering half the bottom. They enjoy this mountain of tunnels :)
I know my albino bristlenose enjoys it..breeding constantly... My petricola enjoys it also.. I see them playing with each other all the time!
wetmanNY
12-07-2002, 5:22 PM
Sharyl's got it! I'd add to her post, put the lighting at the back of the tank, so all the hiding places at the front of the tank are dark and shadowy.
Pieces of natural corkbark (still looking like bark) have a natural curve to them. You need to silicone a knife cut smooth long edge to a rock to make it stay down (it bobs like a.. well, like a cork). Makes an excellent hollow log that lasts for years and can be planted with the smaller kind of Java Fern.
A big fancy florist can sell you corkbark. Or scope "Florist Supplies" in the Yellow Pages...
Serrateeth_2002
12-07-2002, 5:26 PM
I usually make sure the pipe is not too short because less light will come in,the fish in it would get out more often in the day if the tunnel is bright,white pvc also does that,it illuminates the pipe's insides by reflecting the bit of light that entered the tunnel.
JamisonBWolsh
12-07-2002, 5:53 PM
Yea.. I have 4 foot long pvc white tubes. It does reflect some light into the tubes..Not alot..but some. I was thinking about getting the black abs tubes...but I think it may cause the fish harm (leach toxins). So I will leave the pvc tubes in the tank.
Really nice though. they like the maze and all the tunnels. Wish I didnt need them though.
Wippit Guud
12-07-2002, 6:10 PM
Pre-made ponds are made with black-PVC, and no one has mentioned toxins.
(sorry, this might be considered a thread hijack)
JamisonBWolsh
12-07-2002, 6:27 PM
There is Black pvc??? At the hardware stores, all I can find is ABS. Black PVC would work great! White is easy to get. Just cant find black pvc.
Wippit Guud
12-07-2002, 6:36 PM
I means ABS... I use PVC generically as plastic for pipes, my bad :)
JamisonBWolsh
12-07-2002, 6:39 PM
Naw...then Im not interested. No ABS for me.. just PVC.
The gray color pvc might be the best color to have in a tank. Is there a natural type looking wrap we can put on the pipe? expecially if it is for the bigger fish and 4-5 in, diameter pipe. I would face the openings to the front of the tank so we could see in them.
valerie
12-07-2002, 7:43 PM
If you don't mind me asking what is ABS and why would it leach toxins? PVC is ok though. Whats the difference?
Richer
12-07-2002, 7:47 PM
valerie - In an attempt to prevent another... uh.. "debate" I'll just give you this link =)
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=931
-Richer
firetank
12-07-2002, 9:53 PM
maybe go with clay soil\chimney stack pipe...(as seen posted here, it looked good..) then you dont have the prob of abs.....(:D )
it wont degrade and looks better too...