I Am So Angry. Gonna Explode

[scotslasszoe]

Ok here goes.

had my new tank set up for about a month. all filters been cloned and no water problems.

Ok so i went to my LPS on SAT and picked up 2 talking catfish. The LPS knew exactly what i have in my tank, as i am there every week.

So brought the new fish home put them into tank.Every thing fine,

until Yest gets up turns light on and here are 2 of my large Clown loches DEAD!!!!!. I am like ####, no sign of disease. Tho seemed like there was a couple of cutty looking marks on them. I am like hmmmm why oh why did they die.

So this morning again i turned on lights to find my smallest clown loach not looking to good and he has a hole on his top fin. Also one of the talking catfish has a wound on its back below the top fin.

Now the only reason for all of this is i think the talking catfish have killed the clown loaches as i have been told they are really spikey.

Any ideas everyone on whats going on???

Should i get rid of the talking catfish a.s.a.p?

I really need some advice before i explode as i am really angry and upset about it all

Thanks so much

Zoe

 

[Squid]

I had a talking catfish as part of a community tank with no problems, which makes me suprised that this has happened. I had the spotted raphael talking catfish that looked like this:

Is that the same as yours?

The link HERE also suggests that they are good community fish.

Now if I remember rightly, he was a bit of a nocturnal chap that like to stick his head in the dark like this:

..

Do your clown loaches use a certain area for cover? Is there enough cover for all fish or are they competing for the cover? That is the only thing that i can think of that might cause some friction..

Squid

 

[scotslasszoe]

Hiya there is cover for them to hide but they all seem to go to the same bit of wood. Mines is not the spotted, its plain browny silvery coloured ones.

Zoe

 

[Squid]

Do you know the specific species name?

Squid

 

[xxBarneyxx]

It may possibly be the Clown fish that initated the problem. I have had clowns kill Cory's before so maybe the clowns just took on something that was bigger and strong then them.

Clown fish are very pretty and often sold as community fish but they are not always peaceful and I have heard of many people finding there clowns have killed or eaten other fish in the tank.

Have you checked the water parameters as well just to make sure everything is ok.

 

[scotslasszoe]

Not sure on exact species.

Well my clowns did attack a male dwarf gourami and killed it though wasnt sure if the gourami was ill?

So do you think the cats should go?

thanks

Zoe

 

[Davo86]

The only two common talking catfish i know of are the striped and spotted raphael catfish? i have both in with clowns and have done for a few years now, is it possible to see a pic of them?

or do they look like any from this list?

Doradidae catfish

 

[scotslasszoe]

The only two common talking catfish i know of are the striped and spotted raphael catfish? i have both in with clowns and have done for a few years now, is it possible to see a pic of them?

or do they look like any from this list?

Doradidae catfish

It looks a lot like Platydoras sp. (1) on that page but dont go by that 100% i will try my best to get a picture. But it does look a lot like it

Zoe

 

[Davo86]

platydoras species are usually fine with other similar sized fish, i have 1 that ironically shares a hollow bogwood cave with 2 clown loach,
however they aren't a fish that will back away from a threat, if they are provoked they can indeed cause some damage with their armoured shell,

 

[dane261]

i had a talking catfish and had to rehome him for 2 reasons


1 his spike use to damage my bn plecs when fighting over caves

2 he was fat as off all the bn fry (the fat git)


cheers dane

 

[scotslasszoe]

Think i might just see how things go over the next week or so. if any more deaths the cats are OUT!!!!

Only got them instead of a plec, as a gibby plec would grow way to big for my roma 240.

Zoe

 

[cheesy feet]

Talking catfish(or whatever you want to call them) don't back down at anything.When I had my big sailfin (CAe killed it ) they usto go at each other all day and eventually the raphael would win, even though it was nearly half the size...They did this basically all day, my raphaels also do it with the syno's and albino plec I have.One whack with the spines along the side/fins would cut through a clown laoches delicate slime coat and cause an injurey.

I don't get why fish are so awkward and always try to get in the same spot, stupid things lol.

 

[benniebru]

odd but not surprising i say this because they are fish and attitude and aggression are almost impossible to predict. i have a spotted raphel cat and a bristle nose and they get into usually but it is always the pleco starting it the catfish just defends itself by swatting with its tail the catfish i have has to be the most boring catfish alive he doesn't move from his one hiding spot ever ( i know they are more of a nocturnal fish). judging by ur problem i would remove the fish that u think is causing the problem if this did not start until u put the cat in there then chances are that is ur problem.

 

[scotslasszoe]

Well Thanks guys.

Really gutted as this morning found my smallest Clown gone

Anyone want 2 talking catfish

Called LPS yest he said i could take them back. not sure how i will get them out the tank though, as you are not ment to catch them with a NET

Zoe

 

[fall-apart-dave]

I only live down the road from you in Northumberland... If you are really struggling I might be able to rehome them for you (though again, I have clowns in my tank too!).