will i see my banjo again?

[Ben]

hi all first post in catfish section, just become addicted. my cats include: 1 whiptail, 1 banjo, 1 spotted hopolo, 4 syno. sp and a king tiger plec.
i just bought the banjo cat and he went in 1of my tanks, heavily planted with sand and bogwood and dissapeared. trouble is im worrid il never see him again. ive got a moonlight tube, do you think his hiding at night will lessen and il begin to see him once hes settled or do u think hel be invisible to me?

 

[OrionGirl]

Banjo's are pretty reclusive. They can wiggle into the smallest niche, and I seldom saw mine. When he would come out, it was usually after lights out. I would drop in an algae wafer just after lights out, and he'd come out and eat. Never became diurnal, but was a cool fish none the less.

 

[snakeskinner]

I bought a 3" for my 36 gallon heavily planted tank and figured I'd never see him but he hangs out on the plants and decorations towards the front of the tank. I just set up a "banjo home" last night and am anxious to see if he's using it when I get home today. I used a 6" terra cotta flower pot base and filled it with sand and pressed it into the substrate. I set it in the front of the tank in an open spot so I'm not sure he'll use it there. If he doesn't seem to like it, I'll probably move it during the next waterchange. You might try setting up a banjo friendly home where you can see it and see if that helps. I'll let you know if mine uses his home. kyle

 

[ash]

I made a spiffy slate cave for my Raphael (similar behavior) and the punk still uses the plants to hide. One bright side to these kinds of recluse catfish is on the rare occasion that you do see them, it's a real treat.

 

[DHR]

Yes, Banjos will bury themselves in the gravel. Mine will come out to eat in the morning, and sometimes at other times will become unexpectedly social.

 

[snakeskinner]

well, my banjo has yet to use his sand dish. It was about 10" from where he usually hides out so I swapped it with a decoration that was right next to his hideout and actually coaxed him onto the sand with my fingers. He stayed there for a little while and then went back to his plants. I'll give him a week or two and if he doesn't use it I'll probably remove the sand dish. The other fish like scavenging over the sand though. Maybe they can find the food better on the sand than in the rocks. KYle

 

[Ben]

thanks for all the responses!i must be doing lucky, my banjo seems to be a friendly chap, ive seen him for the last 5 nights!i have a sand substrate so he sometimes buries himself in that,but he spends lots of his time hiding under the side of my bogwood or under some broad leaved foreground plants.hes definatly the coolest fish in the tank, i think the others know it too, the loaches have taken to brushing over the top of him,he just plays dead though!good idea with the sand pot kyle, keep us posted.thanks again

 

[brianfl]

I made a spiffy slate cave for my Raphael (similar behavior) and the punk still uses the plants to hide. One bright side to these kinds of recluse catfish is on the rare occasion that you do see them, it's a real treat.

Ash,
I have had several Rafaels and they are great. How big is your slate cave? He will probably only use it if he can barely fit into. Too much room and he won't use it. At least make part of it a very small opening and he will find it and live there.