However, there mayhem insufficient algal growth to meet their needs, so supplement their diet with peas and lettuce. Most of these catfishes eat all the usual aquarium foods, but can only manage very small particles. Any food that is put in the aquarium for them tends to be sucked up rather than chewed!Many sucker mouth catfishes are nocturnal and tend to hide behind plants or under rocks during the day, but most will make an appearance in daylight hours, especially if food is placed in the tank. Nevertheless,it is a good idea to drop some food in the tank for them just before the lights go out at night, but make sure that it will sink; like most catfishes, sucker mouths are usually bottom-dwellers. Whiptail's require well-filtered, mature water, that is high in oxygen. If the oxygen content of the water is severely depleted, these fish will rise to the surface for atmospheric air, which they are able to absorb through the hind gut. They are highly intolerant of aquarium medications containing ethylene blue and have been known to jump from the water to escape such treatments.
