Hello

[jasonc25]

hello
im new to the forum and need some help with my catfish, he/she is just laying on its side and looks dead and i dont know what to do.
can anyone point me in the right direction please

thanx
Jason

 

[rdp50734]

Test your water and post the results!
How big is your tank?
What catfish is it?
How often do you maintain the tank?

 

[jasonc25]

Test your water and post the results!
How big is your tank?
What catfish is it?
How often do you maintain the tank?

thanx for the reply
i dont know how to or have equipment to test the water
the tank is 80 litres
its a peppered catfish
i clean the filters every few weeks
jason

 

[rdp50734]

Do you clean the filters in old tank water or tap water?
Your local fish shop should be able to test the water for you!
For now change 70-80% of the water incase levels of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate are too high! PS dont forget to match temperatures!
Do you do gravel vacs?
How often and how much water do you normally change?

 

[jasonc25]

Do you clean the filters in old tank water or tap water?
Your local fish shop should be able to test the water for you!
For now change 70-80% of the water incase levels of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate are too high! PS dont forget to match temperatures!
Do you do gravel vacs?
How often and how much water do you normally change?

i have just started cleaning them in tank water after speaking to the fish shop owner and i will be getting the water tested asap.
also i changed half of the water on the weekend and also did a gravel vac.
i dont often change the water to be honest as i didnt really know i needed to i was told to do about 20 % every two weeks .

 

[rdp50734]

Should be 20% ish weekly really but it all depends on a number of factors including types of fish being kept!

I would change 70-80% of water just to be sure!

What temperature is the tank running at?

 

[jasonc25]

Should be 20% ish weekly really but it all depends on a number of factors including types of fish being kept!

I would change 70-80% of water just to be sure!

What temperature is the tank running at?

it is at 26c, i will change the water out again asap.
i just cant understand its only him thats affected.

 

[rdp50734]

How old is it? What do you feed him?

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Jason.
You are getting good advice to do a large water change, not a wimpy little 50% one. You have a fish in distress that needs clean water soon. If you are not getting a perfect temperature match with the new water, go cooler rather than warmer. I believe the maximum temperature for C paleatus is about 25C so warmer will cause some stress. If all you have in the tank is the catfish, it would do better a few degrees cooler actually. The C paleatus, peppers, are able to survive in a tropical tank with fish that need warmer water but are not really going to do best at that temperature.

 

[jasonc25]

i have my water test results now
Ammonia (no3) 0
nitrate(no2) 0.1
PH 7
KH 6
phosphate 5
nitrate 100

the shop owner told me to feed every other day this week and to do another water change this week .
the catfish is nearly 2 years now and i feed them flake food and catfish pellets.
so what do you all think?

 

[rdp50734]

You nitrate should be 0 being as its close to 0 now suggests that you had a spike last week, I would do a 50% water change and as advised just feed lightly. Is the catfish any better?
You should change 10-20% weekly regardless in my opinion. I change more as I stock quite heavy and have messy fish!

Is there anything else we could help you with?

 

[Flagtail]

Hows the catfish doing??
Welcome to the site.

 

[jasonc25]

thanx for all the help people you have all been great. the catfish is a little better but still laying on its side now so will keep an eye on it .
i noticed i have a flame tetra with a bent tail aswell now and looks like it also has a bit of the tail missing, he is sruggling to swim what should i do ?

 

[rdp50734]

I would let nature take its course mate!

 

[jasonc25]

thats what i was thinking but will the tetra infect the other fish if it gets an infection in its tail ?