Upside Down Cats

[Bigjim10_4]

Hi hello to everyone. I'm a noob on this site and to tropical fish. This might sound really stupid and I'm sorry if it's been covered before but I couldnt find it. I put 2 upside downs in my tank yesterday. At first they were swimming round and checking their new home out. After 30 mins or so they both found the ship wreck and hid in it. Since then they only appear when tank lights are off. Only other fish in tank are 4 guppys and 3 harlequins. Last night I shone a torch in to catch them out and they were both swimming round the tank like when I first put them in. I'm affraid incase the lights in the tank may be harming them. If anybody else has them then please let me know if this is normal or not. The tank is an aqua start 500 with the standard lights it came with.
Again sorry if this has been covered before. Any help appreciated.
Jim

 

[kizno1]

the light wont be hurting them they are noctrnal and mainly come out when the lights are off. i have 4 and only see then a few times in the day normally when i feed or at morning and dust. how big is the tank? they do best in groups so i would add atleast 1 more.

 

[Bigjim10_4]

That will be why I only see them at night then. Thanks for quick reply. The tank is 50 litre. Should have done a bit more research. I will add another tomorrow and see how it goes. Thanks for advice
Jim

 

[kizno1]

i would up them to 4 so you have
3 guppies
6 rasbora ( they like to be in groups aswell)
5 upside down catfish
2 honey gourami
how does that look?
the more upside down catfish you have the more likely you are to see them

 

[Bigjim10_4]

Thanks again I will get another 2 tomorrow. Is it wise to add another 2 so soon or would you wait so long?
Jim

 

[kizno1]

if there only small and you have good filteration i dont see a problem with adding them tomorrow

 

[Bigjim10_4]

Put another 2 in today. Vanished for an hour or so, now they are all out even with the lights on. Thanks again

 

[kizno1]

good one of mine will come out and swim about in the day all the time but the others will only come out if theres food. IME they seem to get less active as they get older.