spotted raphelle

[c_paan]

Does anyone have one of these fish? I have one in my 55 gallon and its always under the driftwood. Its under there so much I havent seen it in like 2 weeks. Im gunna do a water change soon and ill pull the drift wood out to see if its still alive. My question is does anyone have one of these and do you have the same shy type fish? I realize they could be nocturnal and only come out when im asleep. That doesnt bother me as long as it is cleaning in there and isnt dead!

 

[catfishmike]

yea these fish are super shy,and very nocturnal.i would check to see if it's dead just in case but i'm betting your cats alive and well.and probably bigger than you remember.try feeding after lights out ,and turn down the room lights real low to observe your fish

 

[dana307]

Very shy and very nocturnal. I tended to worry that the fish was stuck or dead and decided to return him.

 

[jd_energy]

I used to have a striped Rafael that I never seen except when I would clean the tank. I had a cave that it would go into and never come out (well maybe at night) but i doubt it because sometimes it would be pitch dark and I would turn the light on never catch him out. I could have taken the cave out i guess, but I figured that it would just stress him or something since they like places to hide. So, I figured what is the point in having a fish that I never see and returned him.

 

[c_paan]

See thats what Im thinking too. Is to just return him. But what if he is keeping the tank clean on his own time, when im not around, then he is doin a good job you know?! Do these guys clean or just scavenge the bottem for fallen food?

 

[jd_energy]

I am not sure what they do. I never seen mine do anything but head straight for the cave when I put it back in after cleaning and then I wouldn't see it again till I cleaned the tank again. I really think that rafaels are cool looking fish, but what is the point if you never see them? Just figured I would make room for a fish that is active and that i can see.

 

[catfishmike]

so what if you don't see it!thats the best part.your tank will seem like a more dynamic place with all the different kinds of fish and their habits.think of is as a reward when you see your raphael.my buddy has 4 just so he can see them grow ,but only by when they come out.it's kinda like a treat for him to see his fish and how much they have grown since their last outing.

 

[c_paan]

I agree I dont think I would give hime away. As long as hes still alive, he must be doing well and gettinbigger otherwise he would have came out by now and found a better source for survival and food. I bought him because he was a very cool looking fish.

 

[c_paan]

Well good news, I saw him the other night and catfishmike your right, he has gooten quite big since I last saw him. Everything in the tank seems to be perfect right now, so the combination of snails, bottom feeders and the pleco are working fine, even if I cant see him at least he is alive and doing his part in there!