Irwini catfish did not move or eat for a year. Turns out that is fine

[Omrit]

I added an Irwini catfish over a year ago, he was fairly small maybe a little under 5 inches. First week I had him he was lodged in some rocks, I thought he was stuck so I moved the rocks. Some say this species hates to be disturbed and will stop eating over it so I should not have done that I guess. He then lodges himself with some wood against the glass, clearly not stuck though. He never moved from that spot again. I added snails of various sizes because I read that was their natural food but he never touched any of them. I dropped food at the entrance of his lair but he never touched any of it. Months go by, I try feeding at night with no luck. Never saw him move even when the tank was totally dark, never turned on the lights to find him anywhere but his spot.

After more than a year he finally moves to eat and now acts "normal". I suppose something that never moves needs very little energy, but I am still surprised that this fish is now doing well. He has been eating for several months now, only active at feeding time of course. I just wanted to share this in case anyone picks one of these up and freaks out over it like I did. I had read others say it took a month or two but I got worried after that but there was no need for that.

It did not grow at all that I can notice during it's year long fast, but is growing now.

 

[phreeflow]

That’s nuts! Come to think of it, when I was collecting plecos, I’ve owned several gold Xantos L56Y plecos over the years and I’ve never, ever seen any of them eat. But they were always fat and like your Irwini, rarely ever moved.

 

[Heck]

Absolutely wild. Any chance he came out and ate when you weren't looking, and returned stealthily to his exact spot? Or you're pretty positive he just stayed still the whole time?

 

[Omrit]

Absolutely wild. Any chance he came out and ate when you weren't looking, and returned stealthily to his exact spot? Or you're pretty positive he just stayed still the whole time?

I am pretty positive he stayed put. I would spy on the tank with the red light and he was never out even at night, never turned the lights on to find him out and about the way other nocturnal predators sometimes are. The tank is next to my bed so I got to see him early morning with no differences either.

Also in my tank there is no spare food. All lost food is found within 10 minutes since it's a set-up full of scavengers.

Eventually I saw him start moving a bit in his spot, and shortly after he started seeking food although never far from his spot. I recently moved the wood and he moved back in as soon as I sat it down, did not cause a hunger strike.

 

[Omrit]

That’s nuts! Come to think of it, when I was collecting plecos, I’ve owned several gold Xantos L56Y plecos over the years and I’ve never, ever seen any of them eat. But they were always fat and like your Irwini, rarely ever moved.

How long did they live for you? I love how they look but always had a feeling they wouldn't fare well in my tank.

With plecos I can at least imagine them eating bio-film, driftwood, algae, and other things that might be in the tank not intended as food letting them last a while without "real" food.

 

[Morti]

I have a similar experience but with a much smaller species. I have a striped Raphael that has been with me for 30 years and I have perhaps seen it out maybe 2-3 times in the last decade. It was far more active eating in the early days and it certainly has had periods of higher activity over the years but now it seems to like it's spot and it just stays there. I have no doubt that it is more active during the night but I don't think they are particularly active any time and believe I just miss the short excursions it makes.
I have some snails in the tank and there will be the odd pellet missed by the other fish. Obviously an irwini will get far bigger and although I haven't kept them, they are supposed to become far more active as they grow and their appetites increase. I have heard some even come to the surface at feeding time and that they need a lot of feeding. I'd love one but just don't have the space.

 

[Omrit]

I have a similar experience but with a much smaller species. I have a striped Raphael that has been with me for 30 years and I have perhaps seen it out maybe 2-3 times in the last decade. It was far more active eating in the early days and it certainly has had periods of higher activity over the years but now it seems to like it's spot and it just stays there. I have no doubt that it is more active during the night but I don't think they are particularly active any time and believe I just miss the short excursions it makes.
I have some snails in the tank and there will be the odd pellet missed by the other fish. Obviously an irwini will get far bigger and although I haven't kept them, they are supposed to become far more active as they grow and their appetites increase. I have heard some even come to the surface at feeding time and that they need a lot of feeding. I'd love one but just don't have the space.

It's a 300 with the Irwini, striped raphael, a few spotted raphael, and a jaguar catfish. The striped Raphael has grown very fast and I see him the most, he eats at every feeding. The others come out sometimes and the Irwini now comes out for most feedings albeit a bit late. Everyone but the Irwini shares a single cave despite the numerous cave options. I really enjoy this type of bump on a log catfish though.