SilverSpider
New Member
Hello I am new to this forum but have been keeping fresh water fish successfully for many years. This thread is specifically about a tank with three Raphael Catfish. The heater in my tank stopped working and the temperature dropped down to mid to high 60's Farenheit for a few days. I now have two heaters, one as a backup but two of my fish have problems. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Tank size: 30g
tank age: 5 years
pH: 7
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH: Unknown
gH: Unknown
tank temp: 78
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Striped Raphael Catfish#1 is lethargic. Dorsal fin is stuck in upright position. Loss of appetite. Fish cannot swim well and prefers to lay still. Used to be the most active. I tried to touch and massage the fin gently to move it (the fish allowed me to do so as it takes food directly from my hand as well) and I was able to gradually change the fin position although it cannot do so on it's own. I do not know if this is a muscle injury as the fish has been known to try to swim under driftwood and knock decorations over or if this is disease related. I do not know much about fish anatomy. I have noticed compared to the other catfish there is more of a reddish hue at the part which connects the dorsal fin to the spine.
Striped Raphael Catfish#2 has swim bladder (I thought it was dropsy at first because his belly was very full) but has an appetite and I have been feeding cooked frozen peas but otherwise seems energetic as always
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% every week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None
Tank inhabitants: 2 striped Raphael Catfish and 1 Spotted Raphael catfish
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None
Exposure to chemicals: None
Digital photo (include if possible):
Tank size: 30g
tank age: 5 years
pH: 7
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH: Unknown
gH: Unknown
tank temp: 78
Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):
Striped Raphael Catfish#1 is lethargic. Dorsal fin is stuck in upright position. Loss of appetite. Fish cannot swim well and prefers to lay still. Used to be the most active. I tried to touch and massage the fin gently to move it (the fish allowed me to do so as it takes food directly from my hand as well) and I was able to gradually change the fin position although it cannot do so on it's own. I do not know if this is a muscle injury as the fish has been known to try to swim under driftwood and knock decorations over or if this is disease related. I do not know much about fish anatomy. I have noticed compared to the other catfish there is more of a reddish hue at the part which connects the dorsal fin to the spine.
Striped Raphael Catfish#2 has swim bladder (I thought it was dropsy at first because his belly was very full) but has an appetite and I have been feeding cooked frozen peas but otherwise seems energetic as always
Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% every week
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: None
Tank inhabitants: 2 striped Raphael Catfish and 1 Spotted Raphael catfish
Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None
Exposure to chemicals: None
Digital photo (include if possible):
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