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Hellow, i've had catfish for a long time now, and never had any problems with them.
My Synodontis ocellifer is about 4 years old and 3years in my aquarium. The only thing that bothers me a bit is that he never shows himsilf. In these 3 years I NEVER saw him swiming around, he was always hiding in his wooden strunk. The only time i can see him, is when i remove the strunk or capture him... The fish looks perfectly fine so it isnt ill or so.
What I already tried without succes: placing food next too the strunk / shutting down the light of the kitchen and or aquarium (works for my Agamyxis pectinifrons)/ sitting absolutly mousestill at the aquarium for 1hour, staring (this with lights on and off).
=> so far no succes

I do know he gets out, cause i can catch a glimp of him when i come home in the middel of the night and sneak towards the aquarium without making to much movement, sound and light. But from the moment he sees me, he dissapears again

Now my question is: what could be the cause and is there anything i can do too see him more without stressing the animal(anyone with the same experience?).
It's realy a shame for such a magnificent fish!

Thx in advance

It's natural for your catfish to shun the light. I noted from your other post that you have white gravel/coral sand (which is an unnaturally harsh substrate for your catfish) as your tank substrate. I would try switching to a darker substrate (brown/black gravel). That might prompt your catfish to come out more often.

K thx again. I also have cory's, a Agamyxis pectinifrons and khuli(brown one). What do you, or anyone else, think would be best: sand or gravel? Anything special i should look at or do when buying a new substrate?

The needs of the loach and corydoras would probably dictate a finer substrate (sand instead of gravel).

Will fix this tommorow . I'll let you know if his behaviour changes.

Thanks again for the quick responds and good hints!