Senegal Vs Raphael?

[Straydum]

*I posted this under the Catfish section but since the senegal is an oddball, I'd try my luck here aswell*.

To much surprise, one of my lfs just stocked quite a number of raphael catfishes. I dont see them quite often in my area and I'd always thought they cost a bomb. They werent actually as expensive as I thought they would be. I've always wanted one and today I got myself a pair, both around 3 or 4".

They have settled quite nicely in my 75g, but the thing that bothers me now is that my 6" senegal is checking them out. It gets close to them and attempts a bite or two. It misses most of the time but I'm afraid it'd continue. From here, either my raphael would become lunch/dinner, or my senegal would be badly injured by the raphael's spines, or the senegal would choke on the raphael which may get stuck in it's mouth and both dies. Help?

 

[MojoDex]

well at 3-4" the bichir has no chance of eating them since its only 6" its self, i have succesfully kept 4" raphael cats with what was at the time a 12" orante bichir and never had any problems.

raphaels are very bulky for there size and armour plated to boot, if the bichir persists the cat wont even have to fight back and it will win due to armour and sharp spiky bits me thinks.

hope this helps

 

[DarkEntity]

*I posted this under the Catfish section but since the senegal is an oddball, I'd try my luck here aswell*.

To much surprise, one of my lfs just stocked quite a number of raphael catfishes. I dont see them quite often in my area and I'd always thought they cost a bomb. They werent actually as expensive as I thought they would be. I've always wanted one and today I got myself a pair, both around 3 or 4".

They have settled quite nicely in my 75g, but the thing that bothers me now is that my 6" senegal is checking them out. It gets close to them and attempts a bite or two. It misses most of the time but I'm afraid it'd continue. From here, either my raphael would become lunch/dinner, or my senegal would be badly injured by the raphael's spines, or the senegal would choke on the raphael which may get stuck in it's mouth and both dies. Help?

You main concern is as you stated, if the Bichir has eyes bigger than its belly and mouth, should the catfish get stuck it will simply extend all its barbs and pointy bits and most likely kill the Bichir and maybe itself....from the stress....id keep an eye on it for now but if it looks like the Bichir is even remotely trying to fit it in his mouth id separate them

 

[Straydum]

thanks for the replies. it seems like the senegal has stopped for now and left the raphael alone. i keep seeing only one of the 2 though, they really do hide alot.