Glass Cat Dying?

[mhancock]

Evening,
 
Yesterday I got three glass cats, and they were introduced very slowly to the tank so acclimatised correctly.  The fish were bought in Kent and I live in London
 
This morning I noticed that the clown loaches were giving the new fish a lot of attention, then this evening one of them has some tail missing, the tail end is white and the body of the fish, which is normally transparent, is going milky.
 
I know that when they die they go milky white, but have not seen a live one like this so assume it's dying.
 
I've put the sick fish in a isolation tank with water from the original tank so no further shocks.  Water temp set a little higher than the main tank.
 
So - is it most likely that the problem is bullying from the clowns, a sick fish in the first place, or could the change in water from Kent to London have been too much?  I know that they are sensitive fish.
 
Hopefully given time and space the fish will recover, but I'd appreciate your thoughts.  I don't want to be adding chemicals to the isolation tank, but would a little salt help?
 
Sorry, no pic - I just wanted to move the fish somewhere safe, and there's not much more info than my description above gives anyway.
 
 
M

 

[WILDER]

Any signs of flicking and rubbing?
Any trailing slime on fins, or body?
Is the fish heavy breathing?
Are his fins clamped?
Any signs of darting?
What was the PH of the store you bought them from> What is your PH?
Can you post water stats please?

 

[mhancock]

Hey Wilder:
 
Any signs of flicking and rubbing? - no
Any trailing slime on fins, or body? - no
Is the fish heavy breathing? - no
Are his fins clamped? - no
Any signs of darting? - no
What was the PH of the store you bought them from> What is your PH? don't know / not measured
Can you post water stats please? not measured recently, normally very stable
 
 
M

 

[WILDER]

OK.
It doesn't sound like a parasite involved.
It could be PH, to stress.. It's best to check the bag water for PH to see how long you have to climatise for.
If the fin has white edging that a sign of finrot.
 
Heard that glass cat fish are very sensitive to salt so it's up to you if you use it.
I would go in with less than half dose.

They can go milky in colour when stressed
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/72000-glass-catfish/

 

[mhancock]

OK.
It doesn't sound like a parasite involved.
It could be PH, to stress.. It's best to check the bag water for PH to see how long you have to climatise for.
If the fin has white edging that a sign of finrot.
 
Heard that glass cat fish are very sensitive to salt so it's up to you if you use it.
I would go in with less than half dose.

They can go milky in colour when stressed
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/72000-glass-catfish/

 
Thank you - I've never checked the ph of the LFS water to compare with mine, however as I've moved further away I may now need to.  I'll hold back from the salt and hope that the milkiness will go away - I'm relieved to know that it can be a sign of stress rather than just a sign of death!!!
 
Thanks again and for the link,
 
 
 
M

 

[WILDER]

Just turn tank lights out and let him settle down.
You could add a bit of salt it meant to help with stress.
 
Good Luck.

 

[mhancock]

Just turn tank lights out and let him settle down.
You could add a bit of salt it meant to help with stress.
 
Good Luck.

 
There's no lighting in the spare tank so that's fine!  I'll see how he/she is tomorrow and may add some salt.
 
Right, off to bed!
 
Thanks,
 
 
 
m

 

[WILDER]

OK. That's fine.
I'm off to bed soon too.
 
Good Luck. 

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Kryptopterus vitreolus, like other "Glass catfish," should never be bought in such low numbers as a trio. 10+ is a must, they pine away in low numbers and so not do well. I have 25 Pareutropius mandevillei, a similar African midwater diurnal and highly social catfish.
 
If you have a QT, why did you put them straight in your main tank?
 
Given the size and boisterous nature of Clown Loaches and their rheophilic (strong water flow) nature, what possessed you to add a small; timid; low water flow fish to the tank?
 
How many Clown Loaches do you have? If you have less than ~10, like other biotine loaches they are more likely to be nippy in the community, because they are being prevented from forming their natural complex hierarchy among their own kind. 

 

[WILDER]

Thanks NObody Of The Goat. Very informative post.
 
Hows the fish doing?

 

[mhancock]

WILDER - Hi - the fish is doing OK, still milky but at least by itself.
 
 
 

Kryptopterus vitreolus, like other "Glass catfish," should never be bought in such low numbers as a trio. 10+ is a must, they pine away in low numbers and so not do well. I have 25 Pareutropius mandevillei, a similar African midwater diurnal and highly social catfish.
 
If you have a QT, why did you put them straight in your main tank?
 
Given the size and boisterous nature of Clown Loaches and their rheophilic (strong water flow) nature, what possessed you to add a small; timid; low water flow fish to the tank?
 
How many Clown Loaches do you have? If you have less than ~10, like other biotine loaches they are more likely to be nippy in the community, because they are being prevented from forming their natural complex hierarchy among their own kind. 

• There's not just 3 glass cats - I bought 3 as there were only 3 left of my original number and I wanted to bring the total number up to a better level.  You would not have known that from the original post though.
• I've never really needed to QT before - maybe that's a lesson learned as I was aware that they are sensitive.
• I have 4 clown loaches, they swim around together and seem happy enough.
• Comments like "what possessed you to add a small; timid; low water flow fish to the tank" are really not helpful and put me off posting on a forum like this!  I'm probably a typical fish keeper, some awareness but picking things up all the time.  I was aware that both the clowns and loaches need to be kept in groups which is what I have done - and previous advice has led me to believe that the numbers that I have are OK.  You may know more than I do, I may indeed have based my stocking on bad previous advice (which I would not have known), however I would suggest that criticism is constructive, and therefore helpful, it its tone.

Anyway, let's hope the little guy makes it

 
 
M

 

[WILDER]

Glad to hear he's still with us. 
Have you tried adding a bit of salt as that might help.
Is he eating?

 

[mhancock]

Hi Wilder,
 
Eating a bit, body now transparent (no milkiness) which is great.  Hopefully tail repairing, he certainly seems relaxed.
 
Given Nobodyofthegoat's comments, I may put the glass cats into my 85l tank when that comes back.
 
 
M

 

[WILDER]

Thanks for the update. Great news. I thought at one point he wasn't going to make it. I'm really pleased he's a lot better.
We all have to learn. I don't know anything about glass cat fish so can't comment.
. NoBody Of The Goat does have a lot of knowledge to offer and is a respected member of the forum. So i'm glad you are considering his advice.
 
Good Luck.

 

[mhancock]

NoBody Of The Goat does have a lot of knowledge to offer and is a respected member of the forum. 

 I agree