Where do upside down catfish hide?

[nikki23]

Hi!
I purchased an upside down catfish over the summer and thought I'd get hours of fun watching this interesting creature. I didn't see him since the first week I bought him and assumed he must have perished. Then out of the blue after 2 and a half MONTHS of not seeing one tiny glimpse of the guy, he swims out in broad daylight, right through the middle of the tank! My jaw dropped and I quickly summoned everyone to have a look. He was around for about an hour or so and I have not seen him since! TWO WEEKS AGO! Where do they hide??? I've looked and looked. Anyone with a similar experience and/or a clue as to where they could hide? I have a small rock cave and a couple of pieces of slate, but I have a clear view pretty much EVERYWHERE....hmmmm..... Thanks!
Nikki

 

[smb]

He's probably hiding in the caves all day and only comes out at night. Have you moved the rocks and caves to se where he's at?

 

[guppymonkey]

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't upside down catfish a schooling fish? I think I read that somewhere. If they are schoolers than that could explain the long disappearance (that or a vacation). I think they might be nocturnal so that could also be an explanation. ( I think.... )

 

[CFC]

They are indeed a schooling fish and the more you have of them the more likely they are to come out during daytime hours. The addition of plants which have large surface covering leaves like lillies also helps as the USD cats like to browse under them for anything edible, attaching bogwood roots to the tank glass with suction cups also provides overhanging structures for them to feed from.