Raphael Catfish emergency

SilverSpider

New Member
Joined
May 7, 2022
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
USA
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):
 
Last edited:
Pictures of sick fish, and videos of them feeding if possible?

What does their poop look like?

--------------------
The first fish might have just been holding its fin up.

Are you sure the second fish has dropsy and isn't just fat?
How long did it take to get fat?
 
Pictures of sick fish, and videos of them feeding if possible?

What does their poop look like?

--------------------
The first fish might have just been holding its fin up.

Are you sure the second fish has dropsy and isn't just fat?
How long did it take to get fat?

I have not seen them poop yet. They usually poop in hiding and I'll only see it later while vacuuming the gravel. There was definitely much less than usual so maybe they are constipated?

The first fish has been holding his fin up for almost a week and only sometimes relaxes it.

Sorry I meant to say swim bladder I'll edit that in the original post. Fish #2's back end floats up sometimes.

I'll post some pictures soon.
 

Most reactions

Back
Top