Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

[NDsuperduty]

I purchased a River Giraffe Cat(roughly 10") a few weeks ago, and just recently have noticed some odd behavior.  The giraffe cat will be sifting through the sand, then kind of go nuts.  It will start swimming at the top of the tank rather than its usual floor postion, and then it will be gargling water at the very top of the tank.  Its almost like its trying to see what is outside the water.  I am concerned it may eventually make its way out of the tank.  Is this normal behavior or is it a sign of something.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Is he finding enough food in the sand?  He may be looking for food.  

I'm not suggesting you do this, but our fish are pigs, so we pretty much hand feed our giraffe cats.  If we don't, the other fish eat it up before the cats can get all they want.   :)

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

i have attempted to hand feed him but he is a little shy.  Usually whenver I come up to the tank he will either stop swimming or go hide.  I feed a high protein sinking pellot for the cat, and he seems to be getting alot.  But since I am not used to feeding such a large fish, he still may need more food.  I just dont want to overfeed him.

[CichlidFan]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

maybe he came across one of your misplaced vitimins there? ....sorry....couldn't pass on that one...my bad....

CF

[Nickintex]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

I have a giraffe cat as well. Mine sometimes likes to line up small rocks in one corner of the aquarium.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

i have attempted to hand feed him but he is a little shy.  Usually whenver I come up to the tank he will either stop swimming or go hide.  

That's how Junior (our 2nd Giraffe cat) acted when he first came to live with us.  He was a bit jumpy, but he's settled down now that he knows our hands in the tank = food.  I wish I had more to offer.    :(

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

So tonight my giraffe cat made his way out of the water while thrashing about on the top of the tank.  Luckily for him(and me) he ended up on the center support glass and slide back into the water.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Got a video of the Giraffe Cat.  This is a MILD version of what he does.

Giraffe Cat searching for dry land

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Does he have enough space on the bottom to stretch out and just lay around?  I couldn't tell from your video....this is freaking me out!  

When he's sucking at the top, have you dropped any food in on him?  See if he reacts to food?

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

He's very beautiful, by the way.

[armthehomeless]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

I was actually wondering the same thing as Imagirlgeek. My giraffe cat was always shy and liked being in a cave of some sort---away from the lights of the aquarium.  He enoyed having his space and lounging around. Eventually I got tired of him vacuuming up fry, so he found found another home.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

There is a good amount of rock in the tank, but he has found a place to hide from the lights.  However, the only time that he goes in the "cave" area is when i am around.  When he thinks no one is watching, is when he starts to get crazy.  As soon as I walk up to the tank he instantly stops and starts to sink back down to the lower level.

As for feeding, I do drop food on him when he does that and he does eat it.  He may just be hungry, but I can see that is stomach is full.

I will take a few pictures of the entire tank right now and post them in a few.

[NDsuperduty]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Here is some full tank shots

Video of Catfish resting at time of Pics. He appears to be breathing heavy, but that could be due to me turning on the lights.  He is already swimming around again.  Also, you can see his belly is fully feed.



The Giraffe Cat typically stays under this Bridge rock in this pic

[ImaGuyGeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Girlgeek and I were just discussing this and we realized that we feed if the fish are begging. Our large Giraffe went through a growth spurt and was begging for food a lot. I would recomend feeding as long as he wants to eat. We buy food in bulk for our giraffe cats.

[ImaGuyGeek]

Re: Question about Giraffe Cat behavior

Very nice tank :) Girlgeek is taking pics of our tanks with Giraffe cats. Just one observation, is there any chance you could do something with the holy rock on the left to create more gound space for you cat? It is a really good looking fish by the way.