telesto
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello all,
Two weeks ago I noticed, for the first time, the striking pictus catfish in the local Petsmart I go to (unfortunately no LFS's around, though this place takes very good care fo their fish). I came back home, researched them a bit, and picked one up the next day.
Once he was in the tank, he darted immediately for the large castle I have and hid out. I expected this, as I'm sure he was frightened.
Unfortunately, it's been two weeks and I RARELY see him. Here's the problem: He is horribly bullied by my red-tailed shark. Every single time the pictus comes out, the red-tailed shark will mercilessly go after him. He only leaves him alone when the pictus stays in the castle (which is odd, as that is what I consider the red-tailed shark's territory).
I feel very bad for this fish. I don't even know how he is eating, except for maybe the wafers I drop in the tank at night. The odd thing is that my red-tailed shark, my favorite fish in the tank, has never bothered any other fish like this (including gouramis, zebra danios, tiger barbs, bala sharks, and a rubber-lipped pleco). I bought another small castle thinking maybe they needed more hiding space, but it's being unused.
So I have two problems: One is I feel bad for this poor fish being bullied on all the time. Second, I have a decent sized fish using up tank resources that I never, ever see. What can I do? Will Petsmart let me "return" him to the schooling tank they have there? If I get another one, will that make everything better?
Thanks for the advice.
Two weeks ago I noticed, for the first time, the striking pictus catfish in the local Petsmart I go to (unfortunately no LFS's around, though this place takes very good care fo their fish). I came back home, researched them a bit, and picked one up the next day.
Once he was in the tank, he darted immediately for the large castle I have and hid out. I expected this, as I'm sure he was frightened.
Unfortunately, it's been two weeks and I RARELY see him. Here's the problem: He is horribly bullied by my red-tailed shark. Every single time the pictus comes out, the red-tailed shark will mercilessly go after him. He only leaves him alone when the pictus stays in the castle (which is odd, as that is what I consider the red-tailed shark's territory).
I feel very bad for this fish. I don't even know how he is eating, except for maybe the wafers I drop in the tank at night. The odd thing is that my red-tailed shark, my favorite fish in the tank, has never bothered any other fish like this (including gouramis, zebra danios, tiger barbs, bala sharks, and a rubber-lipped pleco). I bought another small castle thinking maybe they needed more hiding space, but it's being unused.
So I have two problems: One is I feel bad for this poor fish being bullied on all the time. Second, I have a decent sized fish using up tank resources that I never, ever see. What can I do? Will Petsmart let me "return" him to the schooling tank they have there? If I get another one, will that make everything better?
Thanks for the advice.