Raphael cat questions

[bushynose_cory]

I'll make it simple

1) Can they do well in hard water? Like ones for Rift Lake types?

2) How do you feed them? Have you acually seen them eat? I once kept one for a year; he always hid under a piece of wood, and I NEVER saw him eat!! Funny thing is, I never gave him extra food in the night, but he lasted for several months before bailing and becoming a statue.
Also, even if they were to eat during the day, I think their shyness would be a great hinderness?

How can you enjoy them? Although I didn't before, I may now.....

[Marc van Arc]

1) Can they do well in hard water? Like ones for Rift Lake types?

They can do in hard water, but I doubt it that they'll do well. I wouldn't recommend it.

[racoll]

My tapwater is as hard as it gets, and I have a P. costatus that is well over fifteen years old.

However the pH is about 7.5, not up in the 8s like many rift lake aquaria. I would suspect they would be fine, even at a pH over 8 though. They seem quite hardy and adaptable.

He hid at first, but after a few years of settling down to aquarium life he now cruises around feeding with the lights on. At over 6 inches, he's the boss of the tank now!

Feeding at night is the best solution initially, but ensure other night feeders don't beat him to it.

[Marc van Arc]

I would suspect they would be fine, even at a pH over 8 though.

I wouldn't. Not as long as they're all wildcaught. I've seen too many Doradidae species die at a wholesaler's. They are initially quite sensitive to wrong water parameters.

[sidguppy]

Also; there are many pretty Rift Lake catfishes for sale; with a bit of effort you should be able to get at least 4 species of Synodontis (lucipinnis, multipunctatus, granulosus and "polli White"), 1 or 2 species of Lophiobagrus, 1 species of phyllonemus.

these are all available in the trade (sometimes even more species of Syno's turn up!), they do fine at a ph of 8 and much more important they are used to a high density of agressive cichlids wich the Dorads are not!

think about the fish.
and like Marc said; almost all (if not 100% all!) Dorads are wildcaughts....wild caught fish from South America should NOT be kept in a Rift Lake tank. period. it's unethical.

[bushynose_cory]

I can't get ANY of the cats you mentioned(The multies are too expensive, the rest non-obtainable)

I'll just go with Synodontis decorus. ㅋㅋ

[sidguppy]

Synodontis decorus can be used (many Syno's are quite adaptable when it comes to pH and hardiness), but please DO be aware that this particular species really grows to almost 1 foot in length (yes, in captivity too) and that it should be kept with a few speciesmembers cause it's a social species.

a tank containing 3-4 healthy adult decorus is a big tank.