Striped Raphaels

Psy · Post by **Psy** » 30 Nov 2004, 03:18

After wanting one for 2 years now, I finally bought a tank big enough to fit one. Its a 75gal (48x18) with a pleco and eventually tiger barbs and a Jack Dempsey. He should be spiney and nocturnal enough to be ok. I need to add more rockwork and caves, but there will be plenty before I got either the dempsey or more cats.

Question 1:
Should I get more than one? I see various discrepancies between shoaling and merely tolerating each other.

Question 2:
Is there any way to grow them quickly? He's getting night time feedings of sinking mini pellets (for crabs that I had leftover) small cichlid pellets, algea weafers if he can steal it from the pleco, and his choice of upto 70 convict fry. Anything else, aside from clean water?

PlecoCrazy · Post by **PlecoCrazy** » 30 Nov 2004, 03:47

Question 1

I would get more than one. They appear to enjoy their own company and usually hide in the same area side by side during the day. I know they are not merely tolerating each other, they purposley hang out together.

Question 2

Your diet sounds fine. Why do you want him to grow faster? They grow plenty fast enough without and special help.

FYI, if you ever see your stripped raphael acting unusually active during the day then it usually means you need to do a water change.

Psy · Post by **Psy** » 30 Nov 2004, 04:37

Why do I want him to grow faster?

I've heard they are slow growers, and would like "him" to grow faster, to avoid any potential of becoming a JD snack. Spiney or not, 2 inches of catfish dont seem much compared to a fish that should hit 6inches in a year or so.

Are all of these wild caughts?