Help My Big Cat

[briobug]

I posted this picture and a brief tale of what's up in the cat fish area but no replies. So I'll try here.

About a month ago one of my beautiful upside down cats started developing these little whit spots. It's no fungus or ich or anthing I've ever see before. When I look super super close it looks as if he's just lost the pigment in his skin. It's really strange. I bought some random medicine which is a general cure-all. I should say that I'm living in Northern China so my options are limited as to help I can get or meds for treatment. I've googled like a crazy person trying to get an idea of what this is. My second beautiful cat has started getting the discolouration too now.

My cats behavior has changed some what. He just likes to hang in that position in that plant. He still eats but doesn't really play with the other one much anymore. They usually like to swim and chase and 'play' all over the tank. I know these types of cats are said to be very social. I'd hate to loose one or both.

I've given two doses now of the medicine after the last partial water change and filtration change.

For those of you that don't know this is a Synodontis eupterus usually brown with beautiful big dark brown spots all over...now it's this weird marbling effect.

Oh he's not peeling or loosing skin, I know it looks like it in the photo. His skin is completely intact with no difference in texture. Still quite smooth.

Any ideas

 

[Davo86]

Hi, wow that doesn't look nice, poor little thing,

What are the water parameters (i.e. ph, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, temp)
also what are you currently feeding them?

 

[briobug]

Well, I wish I could tell you those things but since living here in China I really don't know. I once bought a little book of pH papers but but ha ha, I couldn't read the Chinese on the packet to know what the pH was. Also the nitrate, don't think I've seen those testers here. Harbin is still 3rd world when it comes to pet care. Dogs and cats to 'vets' only. Don't even consider rabbits, lizards, turtles or fish. They are very disposible pets.

I'm taking more photos. I think the meds may have helped a bit. I've given two doses, first one a little over a week ago. See for yourself.

Anyway, I surprised no one has any ideas.

First pic is a couple of days ago, second pic is today.

Okay maybe there's not a noticeable differenc. The second photo is just a little over exposed. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I just thought his color was better today. Also my giant pleco has beautiful colouring today too. Perhaps this med is helping, it says it's for ich, close fin, velvet, fungus, hole in the head and vibrio...it has bacteria that stops activity of pathogens from coming back in 2nd and 3rd stages. And there is no pesticides or chemicals in it.

It's hard to find bottles that have English on them, especially English that makes sense, ha ha.

PS> Feeding just random fish food. Maybe terta food I think. It's Chinese just has pictures of tropical fish on it. Oh, also feeding turtle pellets from when I had turtles. They sink so all the fish like it.

Temp. just room temp. The fish are pretty cosy here during the winter. I have a bachelor apartment with nice even warmth.

 

[Davo86]

Not 100% on this but i would say it may be something to do with the water quality or even something that is in the water that is irritating the fish,

What water changes do you currently do??

As it is unclear as to what the parameters are i would go ahead anyway with a large gravel clean and a water changes of about 25- 30%, also make sure you are using a dechlornator in the water you add.

the treatment you are using sounds like a general treatment which could well be helping slightly.

Another thing that may help is feeding Daphnia as this helps to boost colours in fish

 

[briobug]

Thanks for the additional info. As far as feeding Daphnia, I'll look around and see if I see anything like that. None of the other fish in the tank have this issue. I'm not satisfied that my tank had stablized somehow yet. It seems a couple time a week I loose a tetra. I'm gonna just let things run it's course. I have seen with my cat that his colouration is getting much better. He's very very dark brown again. The white colouration seem to be fading. By the pictures you can't see so well as what I see when I look in the tank. The tank is right by my computer so I watch and look all day. I guess this general cure-all medicine is doing the trick.