hey all, I just happened into a small (2.5-3") banjo catfish, I think it's a Bunocephalus coracoideus from what I've seen on the net. I've seen lots of larger ones in some LFS's but they've been a little pricey so I never did much research. I just came from Petsmart and they had a couple of these small ones for cheap so I picked one up. I know I should have done the research first but they just had a couple and you never know if they'll get anymore. It will be going in my 36 gallon 1/4 cylinder which I have part of it heavily planted and part somewhat open with a few caves hidden around. I have 1/4"-3/8" stone for substrate, tiger barbs, gold gourami, serpae tetras, giant danio's, one large pleco, a couple small cory's and a couple ottos. There may also be a couple stray ghost shrimp still around but I havn't seen them in a couple weeks. I had tossed around several types of catfish/sharks but never acted on them due to most of them's size and such. I've got some of the basic info on them from websites but just want to get some actual owner's experiences. I saw one person on here posted a picture of a buried flower pot with sand which I really like that idea so I think I'm gonna try and recreate that in my tank. I already feed the cory's shrimp pellets. I also give the pleco a leaf of lettuce or zucchini slices at times. I think I've figured out that any ghost shrimp leftover will become food although he is not very big but that doesn't bother me, they were just for fun anyway. Should I try and add any other types of food for the banjo? I also saw they may eat small snails, has anyone tried this? I have small brown snails breeding in my 55 gallon that I can feed him but if they're not good at hunting them (sounds like they're pretty inactive fish) I don't want the snails in my 36. I plan to get a small dwarf puffer tank going before long and the snails will come in handy. any advice would be appreciated, Kyle
banjo cat questions
- Thread starter snakeskinner
- Start date
after one day with my banjo, I'm pretty happy. He was introduced about 1:00 yesterday afternoon. When I came home around 6:00 I couldn't find him and figured he'd be like BK says but in the middle of the night, I woke up with a small flashlight and found him laying high on some plants. This morning he was near the same spot after I turned the lights on. This afternoon I found him in my wide open side of the tank laying on a little plastic shelf with substrate rocks. I was doing a waterchange/vacuum and he never budged. I tried dropping some shrimp pellets right on top of him as well as some other places in the tank but a tiger barb was searching for the pellet and disrupted his nap so he retreated under the shelf and later disappeared. This evening when I went to feed my fish, he's right in the front near the glass hanging onto a plant. I cleared out a place in the front where I will bury a short pot with sand for him and hopefully he will find it home. There is a cave and the shelf just next to this spot so it's not completely open area. If he doesn't seem to like it, I may try and add some plants around him and see if that does him better. Does anyone have multiple banjo's? I'm considering going back to see if they still have one more, especially since they're only $1.50. The info pages say they can be alone or in groups but I know how some fish don't like small groups and it didn't really touch on how large or small a group. thanks, KYle
I used to have multiple banjo's in my 29. They are great fish. Not so active with the light on. Every evening around dusk I would turn off the light and open the shade of the window by the tank to let in just enough light for me to see in the tank. Then they would really come to life. I have since put some different fish in the tank, and the banjo's are leading a peaceful life in a friends 55g.
I have a miracle-beam nightlight system with 5 little spotlights in different areas, I set them up more for looks, a small nightlight and so I can see in the tank. It also adds a type of moonlight for the fish. Some fish swim in the light beams at night, some hide in the dark. I have tried watching my banjo at night but he's never active when I'm watching. He is always laying around but at least he's out where I can see him. He always seems to move or change positions when I look away. I need to set up a video camera and maybe I can catch him in the act 
I'll have to consider getting a second cat then. I really don't have much extra money right now but $1.50 is doable. thanks for the help, Kyle
I'll have to consider getting a second cat then. I really don't have much extra money right now but $1.50 is doable. thanks for the help, Kyle