I think my pictus is dying.....

[Dawney G]

my pictus has been quite funny now for the last couple of days, he hasnt been settling strait when he rests on the ground and he hasnt been swimming strait. this morning, while i was feeding my son, my husband noticed he was dancing around. like he was doing gymnastics. going skitzo!! he wont stop. he looks like he is breathing heavily. Is it the end to my pictus??? I really hope not.
Please, if anyone knows what i can do, please help me!!!

 

[Teelie]

Water parameters, tank size, how long have you had him, how many do you have (it's a schooling fish), what other fish are in the tank?

 

[Bloo]

Well mine goes skitzo when fed live bloodworms or other yummy food. Then he really goes totally nuts and all you see is barbles and flashes of silver everywhere !

But I'm not so sure about yours if it's not getting fed.
What are your stats for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates ?

 

[Dawney G]

Last time i checked the nitrites and nitrates they were normal, (as they should be). The amonia level was normal too.
he is with a spined loach, but no other pictus's with him.
when he was in my 16g tank my siamese fighter had alot bitten of his tail and also my albino cory. and we lost an albino shark, which i think he pictus was the culperate. I moved him into a 10g tank, for the time being until my 350litre tank comes. he has been ok in the 10g befor now.
He also has 3 feeds a day, this is a change in him that i have never seen befor. he was skitso bfor but not like this. its really not looking good.

 

[Teelie]

A 10g is too small for one though doing some research, they do okay alone, better in groups. 20-30 gallons is the recommended size for them. It's most likely stressed from something. Normal for nitrites and ammonia should be zero, anything else can be dangerous, nitrates are okay up to 80.

Pictus cats are usually a peaceful fish but under stressful situations they can be more aggressive. Does he have anywhere to hide? They need a cave or some kind of wood to hide in.

 

[Bloo]

how big is he at the moment ?
10 gallons for a Pictus is way too small - even if temporary. This is a fish that swims at great speed and moves around non-stop more or less. In such cramped conditions it will definitely become mega stressed I'm afraid.....
Don't think there is much else you can do but give him much more room.

 

[Dawney G]

Ok, he is about 5 inches. hasnt grown at all in the last 4 months really. If i put him in my bigger tank will he eat my guppies and my small fish? i have some babies that are still small enough to get in his mouth.
He keeps having swimming bursts but wont swim in strait lines, then he keeps sinking to the bottom.
I think if he is still here when my 350 comes i will put him strait in there befor i transfer any of my others into it.
thanks for all your help. other suggestions will be very welcome.

 

[Bloo]

as he is 5 inches big he will most cerainly eat whatever can fit into his big mouth ! that will most certainly include guppies and any other small fish.

I don't want to have a go at you, but that's why people should address an issue before it becomes a problem

 

[bunjiweb]

He's going skitz because you aren't providing him with an adequate home. I'm sure you would go skitz if someone locked you in a cupboard.....

Put him in a bigger tank and he will do fine... Either that or let someone with a bigger tank have him.

All i can say is I honestly hope you researched before you bought this fish, as what you are doing is almost certainly making him ill...

Ben

 

[Fishy411]

yeah if its stopping swimming then something is definately wrong. the only time ive seen my pictus's stop is when i replaced the sponge in my filter and had a minicycle. bigger tank definately. my pictus's are like 4 inches in my 55 and i still think theyre gonna need a bigger tank eventually.

 

[Teelie]

The good thing is 5" is about as big as they get so he's not stunted. Just find him a bigger home with caves and he should improve.

 

[Dawney G]

I think some people are getting the wrong end of the stick here and obviously not reading my posts properly!! i did state that he was in a 16g befor. ( i didnt state that he was in it until he grew too big) but i moved him into the 10g because he was eating my other fish, and he was ONLY IN IT UNTIL I GOT MY 350Ltr. (about 2 weeks). I put him in my 350ltr and literally 3 days later he dissapeared. So i dont think it was stress at all, he probably had some kind of life long illness when i got him or somthing like that.
Also pepole shouldnt jump to conclusions about not getting info on fish befor they buy. I got plenty of info on Pictus cats first and i knew what i needed and was letting myself in for.