Pictus, how active is it supposed to be?Mine hides...

**systemdown** · 01-18-2008, 01:56 PM

How active are Pictus Catfish supposed to be? I bought mine yesterday and for the first 3-4hours it was very active exploring the aquarium then it went into the woodlog house and didn't come out at all. I went to work and came back and it was still in there. I thought it may have died so I tried looking in but I couldn't see it. I tapped the glass to maybe spook it a bit, but nothing. I flashed the light in there, but still couldn't see it. I feared the worst, so I removed the house to look for it. I lifted it and wasn't on the bottom, then suddenly it came out. I was relieved that it was alive. I got it away from the house and put the house back in the spot. 5 minutes later it went in and I haven't seen it since (10hrs), obviously I'm not watching the tank constantly. I haven't seen it eat anything and I can't see inside the house in the corner that it was in without lifting the house itself. Should this worry me? Ph is right between 7.2-7.8, ammonia is in higher safe zone, Nitrate/Nitrite are good, there is no chlorine. Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Here's a picture of the house, it's not in the cave but inside the cavity through doors/windows at the very bottom right (only spot I can't see). It's a 55g tank.

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-18-2008, 02:02 PM

Not only does he have a new home to get used to, catfish are night fish. He'll come out when the tank lights are off.

**systemdown** · 01-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

Not only does he have a new home to get used to, catfish are night fish. He'll come out when the tank lights are off.

I couldn't help it but I lifted the house again (2nd time) just to make sure it's still alive. And it is alive and looks well. I put the house back in spot and instantly it flew right in through the window. It is totally dark inside where it hangs out. I guess I'll have to turn the lights off and wait for it to come out.

**Tooch** · 01-18-2008, 03:41 PM

Yes, most catfish are nocturnal. If you turn on a small lamp on the other side of the room and turn the other lights off, you may be able to see him come out and forage for food.

**systemdown** · 01-19-2008, 11:33 AM

Well here's some news: I turned off all the lights for the night and went to bed. This morning I went down to my basement, turned on the room light and peeked into the tank. Swimming around throughout the tank was my Catfish

. It didn't take it long before it ran for cover, it took refugee in the cave under the house. Then it moved to its home. I'm glad that it's active, even though I won't be seeing it much....Maybe when I get couple more Pictus' they will venture out during the day.

**gm72** · 01-19-2008, 12:24 PM

Pictus also like company of their own kind.

**AABatteries** · 01-19-2008, 06:57 PM

My pictus is very active all the time, btw I never shut my tank lights off should I?

**shockshockshad** · 01-19-2008, 09:18 PM

Well, do YOU encounter daylight ALL the time in nature? Do you think your fish like to sleep? lol. yes you should turn it off. algae wil lgrow, and the fish like to sllep.