Animal Stories - Aquarium Tropical Fish


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Latest Animal Stories on Aquarium Tropical Fish (7338)

Anonymous - 2021-09-19
i have had a spotted raphael cat fish since i started my tank in 1994. i know he is at least 27 years old. i also had a striped raphael that lived about 18 years.

RONALD P RAGLE - 2021-08-30
RONALD P RAGLE says:
August 27, 2021 at 4:27 pm
I have what I believe to be a black spotted spiny eel. I’ve had him for 5 years. He’s about 2 feet long. He lives in a 120 gallon tank. I have a Fluval FX-6 canister filter. I use 6 bags of carbon and the rest is mechanical filtration and a 100 gallon Aqueon filter that sits on top of the tank with 2 carbon inserts. The tank also has 2 power heads hooked up to a under gravel system and a large air stone and a wave maker that shoots water right down where he hangs out so I believe the water has more then enough oxygen for him. His tank mates are 2 full grown tin foil barbs, one green terror and 4 plecostomus. He’s eaten 2 tiny red worms in the last 6 weeks. He refuses to eat and has heavy breathing all the time (panting). I’ve tried cooler water, warmer water, aquarium salt and API general cure with no good results. I don’t know what else to try. Now that I think about it in the years past he has had times of heavy breathing but not continuously. I never figured it to be a bad thing because he was always eating. But now he doesn’t eat and the breathing is very heavy. On the outside he has no scratches or scrapes or puncture wounds and there’s no signs of ick or any type of white fungus anywhere. His outer body looks normal. I checked the water with a test kit and everything seemed to be fine. I also took a sample to my local pet store and had the water checked and that test also came back normal. No problem with the water. If there’s anything you can suggest it would be greatly appreciated. He’s a beautiful eel and I don’t want to lose him. I sent some pictures and a small video with this email.

pH – 7.6
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 80 – To me it looked close between 40 and 80 but the girl at the pet store said 80 so that’s what I’m going with.
Ammonia – 0

The tank has been set up for 5 years. Size 120 gallons. Last water change 1 week ago. Water source tap water. I do use water conditioner when doing water changes. Regular water changes every 4 weeks. Water and filter change every 6 weeks. Water parameters were checked today August 24th. I used a liquid test kit. Temperature 82. Tank mates 2 adult tin foil barbs, 4 adult plecostomus and 1 adult green terror female small. Like I said in my original email the eel has always had periods of heavy breathing but not continuously like this and has never refused food. That’s all I got for you. Please help.

RONALD P RAGLE - 2021-08-27
I have what I believe to be a black spotted spiny eel. I've had him for 5 years. He's about 2 feet long. He lives in a 120 gallon tank. I have a Fluval FX-6 canister filter. I use 6 bags of carbon and the rest is mechanical filtration and a 100 gallon Aqueon filter that sits on top of the tank with 2 carbon inserts. The tank also has 2 power heads hooked up to a under gravel system and a large air stone and a wave maker that shoots water right down where he hangs out so I believe the water has more then enough oxygen for him. His tank mates are 2 full grown tin foil barbs, one green terror and 4 plecostomus. He's eaten 2 tiny red worms in the last 6 weeks. He refuses to eat and has heavy breathing all the time (panting). I've tried cooler water, warmer water, aquarium salt and API general cure with no good results. I don't know what else to try. Now that I think about it in the years past he has had times of heavy breathing but not continuously. I never figured it to be a bad thing because he was always eating. But now he doesn't eat and the breathing is very heavy. On the outside he has no scratches or scrapes or puncture wounds and there's no signs of ick or any type of white fungus anywhere. His outer body looks normal. I checked the water with a test kit and everything seemed to be fine. I also took a sample to my local pet store and had the water checked and that test also came back normal. No problem with the water. If there's anything you can suggest it would be greatly appreciated. He's a beautiful eel and I don't want to lose him. I sent some pictures and a small video with this email. pH - 7.6 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 80 - To me it looked close between 40 and 80 but the girl at the pet store said 80 so that's what I'm going with. Ammonia - 0 The tank has been set up for 5 years. Size 120 gallons. Last water change 1 week ago. Water source tap water. I do use water conditioner when doing water changes. Regular water changes every 4 weeks. Water and filter change every 6 weeks. Water parameters were checked today August 24th. I used a liquid test kit. Temperature 82. Tank mates 2 adult tin foil barbs, 4 adult plecostomus and 1 adult green terror female small. Like I said in my original email the eel has always had periods of heavy breathing but not continuously like this and has never refused food. That's all I got for you. Please help.

Jack - 2021-08-11
I purchased 4 wild online they were placed in my 75 gallon with two gold Rams 18 Cardinal Tetras and 8 Discus Jouvies. They are rarely all seen together each has an area the defend (But only from the other 3) they have no fear of the Discus, Cardinals or Rams. But chase one another away. They are about 2 months in my tank, and were only 3/4” in size when they arrived (similar to Cardinal Size) they are now each about 1-1/2” but one ( hoping a male) is approaching 2” Personally I find them mesmerizing to watch. And along with my Discus are a great fish.
PS not taking anything away from my Cardinals or Rams…….
It’s a great Hobby …May your Fins be clear and water remain perfect…

Kristina - 2021-08-03
Help, have yellow that is holding but she is the only yellow in the tank. Other tank mates are an albino Kribensis, breeding pair of Kribensis and 8 Frontosa. (Large tank) I’m confused as to what she could have bred with 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️

Sandra Whitmore - 2016-12-29
Hi I have a feather fin.rescued from a friend . Have new tank 45 gallon.novice so collecting info.think it's a she .becoming very friendly but only with me . Need some buddies for her . In perfect condition so don't want fighting any suggestions pls. Sandy.

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Ezra - 2021-06-30
Hey there! I have a tank of similar size with one featherfin and two goldfish. They seem to get along well, except one of my goldfish is sick right now (treatment is a work in progress) so he gets attacked sometimes, but very rarely. The only advice i have is to make sure none of the fish get sick, or the feather fin will begin to attack them.

barbara - 2019-07-29
I have a 55gal hex tank and my featherfin is typically pretty peaceful with other fish other than an occasional bullying by getting them out of the way... only seems to have an issue with my pleco (both of them are the same size) however i think it's only because recently i added some more decor and it might be a bit too cramped at the base of the tank so i will be removing some decor to see if that helps some. the featherfin cohabitates with the pleco, a black moor goldfish, a few guppies, 1 shrimp, 1 convict cichlid, and 1 gourami. the goldfish, guppies, shrimp, and gourami are all recent additions to the tank...i've had the rest of the fish anywheres from 2-4 years now.

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John Henry Huss - 2021-06-29
I have a 50 gallon tank with a featherfin and a pleco of simmilar size both biggest of the tank, they used to cohabitate a cave in my tank and would often try to push each other out, I was worried about it so I bought a second cave. They now seem to get along just fine with the pleco in a more closed dark cave and my featherfin in a tree root fixture with many entrances. I also have tetras, shrimp, snails, mollies, loaches, and Cory catfish. The feather fin seems to like to eat the snails which I don’t have a problem with because I had many baby snails in the tank before I got the catfish and now it seems to be at a good equilibrium of snails in the tank. The featherfin also seemed to be ok around the shrimp as the shrimp lived about three years. I got the catfish at a local pet store in the adoption tank and had no idea how to care for him, he seemed hurt at first with a red sore nose, most likely from the lava rock within the tank scraping his nose on it which I would not recommend, now he seems just fine and I was glad it was able to recover.

Lou - 2021-03-11
I recently rescued a dojo loach from a friend's community tank. I have cared for other aquatic pets but not these guys. This page was very informative and I feel a little more confident I'll be able to care for my new loach properly.

Ethan - 2021-01-05
i have a ringtail pike cichlid and he is with a rainbow shark and a senegal bichir and he's fine

Eydie - 2016-03-12
I found this website and enjoyed your information on the Striped Raphael Catfish so I thought I would submit a comment. I no longer have a receipt of purchase but a long-ago boyfriend found 2 of these cute bottom feeders at a pet store and brought them home for my tank. The smaller one lived 15 years and at some point I changed my 29-gallon (long) tank to a 10-gallon one to accommodate two remaining fish until their end. The store is long gone, as is the boyfriend. Family members have since passed and I have moved (with my catfish) several times. A long-time buddy remembers visiting my tank years ago. Every so often, she and other acquaintances ask me, 'Do you still have THAT fish?' Yes, I do; just the one. 41 years later, 'Catnafish' and I continue to get together for regular aquarium water changes as I wonder, at age 66, who will live longer? Just wanted to share this with you and your readers.

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Anonymous - 2020-02-15
Greetings, Dillon. I realize you came across my comment awhile back but I don't stop on this site often and here I am responding months later. I still have 'Catnafish,' my striped Raphael catfish. Although I don't turn the calendar page on any particular date, I have her from age 25. I am now 70 so here in 2020, she's 45. She is very hardy and has handled extreme tank situations. I have no other fish. I've so enjoyed many fish during my hobby adventure and many equipment changes during the years but when she goes, the tank will be shut down. She's been one of my favorite aquarium tenants and, of course, the longest lasting. I highly recommend this hardy catfish character especially for the cute factor. To all fish hobbyists reading this site and learning the hobby, I say 'Enjoy your hobby adventure!'
Eydie A Reed - 2020-02-15
I'm sorry my comment read 'anonymous.' I was sure I placed my name in the proper blocks. (sheesh) (Eydie)
Dillon - 2019-10-10
So this fish is 44 years old?
Dillon - 2019-10-10
So you have had this "Catnafish" for 44 years now? I'm sure that it was already a year or so old when you got it.
EYDIE - 2020-12-19
Jan, that's so cool! Who would imagine that a tropical fish in a home environment could live as long as this. Let's check in from time-to-time and see how our hardy fish are thriving. (Eydie)
Eydie A Reed - 2019-07-13
I'm sorry, Bertrand, I just decided to come back to this site and noticed your note. Yes, "Catnafish" is still with me. She's a hardy one, for sure. Thanks for asking.
Eydie A Reed - 2019-07-14
Yes, Bertrand, my catfish is still alive. Yesterday, we experienced a leaky aquarium and quickly set up another tank. Hopefully, she will continue to thrive. Thanks for asking.
Bertrand Sant - 2019-02-08
Hi Eydie! is the catfish still alive today?🤗
Jan - 2020-10-18
Really cool to see others with long-lived Raphael catfish. I have a family member who's Raphael Catfish turned 50 this year.
EYDIE REED - 2021-01-30
Greetings, folks. I came in to the site today to follow-up on my few past comments sharing my Striped Raphael Catfish story. 'Catnafish' was found dead today when I went to make a water change in her tank. Although the loss of a fish is low on the priority of life, I'll miss the familiarity of our routine for 46 years. She was one of my favorite fish through the years; she was very docile. She had been purchased as a tiny tot when I was 25. Now at age 71, I decided not to continue an aquarium community(she was my last remaining fish--for a long time) but that doesn't lessen the fact that collecting fish is a wonderful hobby and I wish continued success and adventures with those of you having a tank and all those wonderful creatures you choose to include. Thanks for sharing your comments and thanks to this site for allowing us to share the adventure.
EYDIE REED - 2021-03-06
Hi, everyone. Since it appears my 01/29/21 message has not appeared, and I kept a copy of my text, I'll try risking another similar message. I want to share a follow-up to several of my previous comments relating my long-time experience with my aging Striped Raphael Catfish. She had been purchased from a pet store years ago when I was 25. I discovered 'Catnafish' dead in her cave on 01/29/21 when I went to give the tank a partial water exchange. Although the loss of a fish is low on the priority of life, I'll miss the familiarity of our routine for 46 years. She was one of my favorite fish through decades of enjoying the aquarium adventure. For a long time, she was the only remaining fish in the tank and I guess she finally thought it time to say 'enough.' Now at age 71, I decided not to continue an aquarium community but that doesn't lessen the fact that collecting fish is a wonderful hobby and I wish continued success and adventures with those of you having a tank and all those wonderful creatures you choose to include. Thanks for sharing your comments and thanks to this site for allowing us to share the adventure. Eydie

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