Striped Raphael question

They're catfish, so they'll eat pretty much anything on the bottom of the tank or within reach, and I'm pretty sure that includes smaller fish once the raphael gets bigger. I had one a long time ago, but not for very long. I think they can get 5-8" or so.
 
They do a good job but in my experience they are pretty nocturnal so I never saw a lot of action out of him. He hid out a lot during the day.
 
Oh yeah I should have mentioned that too. I had a little submarine decoration, and he would squeeze through a porthole and hide inside all day, so I pretty much never saw him.
 
you have to remember, fish poop out almost as much as they eat.. a fish you add as a cleaner will just produce more waste, making your tank dirtier.. it doesn't matter what kind of fish it is. Slight exception with some plecos as their waste doesn't degrade as quickly or easily, keeping it from turning into small, rotten particulates trapped in the substrate.

If you need a fish just to get stuff off the bottom, the striped raphael does a decent job.. but only at night. If you wake up the next morning and have food at the bottom, then a striped raphael is perfect. It deosn't matter what I throw in my tank, it's always gone the next morning.
 
They are very efficient IMO....they become a golf ball with fins! Funny to watch them have a rare "hyper" episode, flying around the tank during the day for a few seconds when they know they should be hiding.
 
It's a shame, they are some beautiful fish, the spotted ones are cool too...
 
one of the favorite cats, they did i a pretty good job for me when the tank was barebottom
 
Mine only hangs out at night. I never see him during the day. However I do know that he is doing his job since the tank is realatively clean and when I do see him he has a nice fat belly. He has been in my tank for more than four years and he is about seven inches long.

Marinemom
 
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