View Full Version : Nocturnal Tank...?
ChilDawg
07-31-2003, 8:59 PM
I'm looking to put together a nocturnal tank some time in the near future...I saw some of the fish that I'd add to it in Rockford's Wal-Mart. (Although that place qualifies as a XXXXhole...)
So far, I've found Striped Raphaels (Platydoras costatus, I believe), Lace Synos (Are they S. eupterus or S. angelicus?), and I've thought about some other additions...
Are there nocturnal Plecos that are easy to find?
Any other recommendations?
It is purely theoretical at this point, but I'm willing to put in as much time and money as it takes to make the fish happy (but I don't really want to pay top-dollar for fish...I'd rather get things that are more easily found!!!)
fishfood
07-31-2003, 11:07 PM
Originally posted by ChilDawg
Are there nocturnal Plecos that are easy to find? [/B]
From what I've read and heard, I think that most plecos are primarily nocurnal. I know that many like to eat and roam at night but pretty much stay hidden when the lights on. Maybe someone else can say so more definitively.
Many Synodontis are more crepuscular than nocturnal, not sure about Lace (they are S. eupterus). I f you get them trained to feeding after full dark, they are likely to adapt easily to that schedule. The wood cats (including the not uncommon midnight or Zamorro cat) are highly nocturnal for me, but I don't see a lot of them around anymore. As they tend to be free-swimming rather than surface-oriented, they might be a good addition.
ChilDawg
08-01-2003, 3:06 PM
Are the wood cats the ones similar to Tatia galaxias? Those seem like they would be nice fish if I can find them...
Looks like I'll have to do a little more Synodontis research as I missed the boat on their crepuscularity...I'll see what I can dredge up on the Eupterus now that I know the name...thanks, RTR!
Yup, that is one that I had as "midnight". Great group of fish if you are an insomniac. Most of them are very gracefull swimmers.
GobyGuy5
08-01-2003, 5:37 PM
An interesting noctural fish for you might be an Upside-Down Catfish. I've got one, and he never shows his face during the day...but will come out during the night. I manage to catch him about an hour or so after lights are out when I flip the room lights on.
Just a suggestion, sounds like a VERY interesting tank idea...maybe I'll have a use for my USD Cat yet!
BigFishDude
08-01-2003, 8:57 PM
What about pictus cats?? They are just absolutely gorgeous.
My question is along nocturnal lines, too. I'm planning to have a tank in my workplace, which is a 24-hour operation: the lights will be on around the clock. Is this beyond the pale for piscine health, or will they do OK if some hiding places are provided?
brianfl
08-02-2003, 7:00 AM
cd,
Zamora woodcats (Auchenipterichthys thoracatus) are interesting fish very nocturnal. I'm not sure of your tank size. I think these guys only get about 4-5". Also, you may want to look at banjo cats.
Myrt-
I would not. The sun does not shine 24/7 except near the Artic (and Anartic) circles seasonally, no tropicals there.
ChilDawg
08-02-2003, 11:12 AM
I forgot about the little Banjos! Thanks, brianfl!
The tank size is kinda up in the air right now...I just thought it would be a cool thing to have going in our dorm room (covered in the day) for when I get insomnia...I may not do it b/c of moving considerations, but it sounds like a cool possibility!
ChilDawg
08-02-2003, 11:13 AM
How hardy are the banjos? Would they withstand a move twice a year?
ROLLIN
08-02-2003, 12:36 PM
Originally posted by RTR
not sure about Lace (they are S. eupterus).
I thought lace synos were nigrita? Thats what mine seems to be.
*Edited to add this link: http://www.concentric.net/~Akthurst/Snigrita.shtml
What about Elephant noses? Arent' those nocturnal also?
I think they would be cool!
ChilDawg
08-02-2003, 12:54 PM
ROLLIN seems to have hit upon a good point about scientific vs. common naming...the ones in Wal-Marts and other *fine* (cough, cough) retailers throughout the area seem to be S. eupterus, though I've seen the S. nigrita sold, too, but under a different name (and scientifically IDd).
Lila,
I like the suggestion of elephantnoses, but if this were to be a collegiate tank, I'd have to move them a lot, and they don't seem likely to withstand the stress...I'll try 'em when I get my house, though! :)
brianfl
08-02-2003, 4:24 PM
Banjos are pretty hardy. I think if you did it right, it wouldnt' affect them much at all. They really don't need a lot of room for a lot of the time. If you got them into a little tank or box with water or something like that with gravel, they would just burrow under the gravel and be fine for the move. I have moved them from tank to tank several times in the past and it didn't seem to affect them like it did my others. They just kind of found a place and made it in home in minutes. Very similar with the rafaels that I had.
missed the spotted raphaels.... you wouldn't hardly see either of them tho, they are very reclusive.
as far as upside down cats.... the asian (mystus) is awesome, but somewhat larger and uncommon. you could also do a small school of the syndontis nigriventis ones. there is also a new color variant that is similar to these.
alot of the pimolodus cats would be good. the 4 line or blochii is a neat fish.
depending on the other inhabitants and fish you could also try something like a black ghost knife.
I haven't seen my stripped raphael in months. Just through the slit in the side of his driftwood cave. My syno decorus actually comes out during the "crepuscular" (word of the week, thanks for expanding my vocab RTR) hours.
do you plan on using a moon light or other lighting of some sort?
ChilDawg
08-02-2003, 6:17 PM
Probably just a moonlight and a sheet to cover them during the day...perfect for looking while I'm typing an almost-due term paper! :) Would it be likely that I see a banjo all that often at night, or would it just hide under the gravel?
Use at least a standard aquarium light during whatever you select as the 'day' period. Otherwise they will not have a routine activity period in the "dark" period. Keep the cycle routine as much as possible.
Have you seen my old "Insomniac" blurb? the last paragraph got hosed and has never been corrected, but you can make some sense of it.
http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/insomniac.shtml
ChilDawg
08-03-2003, 11:40 AM
Hadn't read that in a while, so thanks for reminding me about it! I'll start planning the purchases now, I guess! :)