Shark Catfish Dead

[jimbooo]

Hi Everyone,

I hope your week's beginning better than mine. i woke up this morning to find one of my Shark Catfish (see attached pic) pointing face up in the tank, gasping for breath. it was as if he had a lead weight in his tail, he could only swim for 3/5 seconds before his tail would sink again and he would be pointing straight upwards. i noticed what i can only describe as a small 'blister' under his skin (they dont have scales as such) just next to the big fin on his back about the size of a baby's fingernail. within 2 hours he was dead and the 'blister' had grown to the length of a matchstick, as if there was a thin bubble of air under his skin. his twin brother (same time in tank, identical fish) seems fine but i'm worried theres some infection in the tank. i have only just done a 25% water change (prior to fish dying) and quality was spot on.

The only thing that has recently changed is on saturday i added the correct dosage of Tetra 'Aquapride' to the tank which i have never used before, to help along my live plants and i also fed a bag of live daphnia which i bought from the LFS.

I have put a dose of Myxazin in the tank incase the problem was body rot or something but other wise i'm not sure what to do.... any ideas i can't bear to lose another.

oops, i've also lost a black baloon molly, laying on the bottom amongst the plants. no sign of infection though.. RIP my littly buddy's

 

[Fawke]

Hmmmm

Shark catfish, not to mention grow huge, are quite sensitive fish. Are your water parameter ok? Also, i would phone up or check the plant conditioner is scaless fish friendly.....

Also, these fish are Brackish. Younger juveniles will be "ok" in freshwater (this is debatable), as they start life up stream. Older fish however need brackish water as they migrate to estuaries.
I have known people to keep these fish for years, and then suddenly they die off for an unknown reason.... usually because they need brackish water.

Anyhow, back on track...... How are your other fish behaving?

 

[jimbooo]

Thanks Fawke for the reply.

the other fish seem fine, i cannot tell you the water perametors i'm afraid apart from the nitrite test came out bright yellow which means all ok. i only have a litmus paper type test for other perametors and all are pretty close to perfect.

The shark catfish were in the tank from week 4 and were only 1 1/2 inches long at the start. they or shall i say the remaining one is now 2 inches however the smaller of the 2 died, the bigger one seems perfectly happy if not a bit lonely now...

i know they need brackish i was told they will be ok for 12 months in a normal tank about 12 gallons after which i'm buying a huge 'indoor swimming pool' for them, when funds allow........

i'll check out the plant food, won't be happy if thats the cause, LFS heads will roll....

 

[Fawke]

jimbooo

Sorry, i didnt mean to sound patronising. IMO these are extremely cool fish, and ppl who go on looks often get them without realising what they are, what they require and do not research them at all..... This is clearly not the case with yourself.

These fish are territorial when older, but usually are ok when young. Is there anyway anything could of battered the lil guy?

If your Nitrites are 0 then the chances are the Ammonia is also. I would however get a NitRATE test kit.... as these fish (and many others) are sensitive to high Nitrates. These can be reduced with water changes, providing the water is conditioned (removing chlorine and chloramines + hardness) and the tap water isnt high in Nitrates also......

Im sorry to hear about your loss. little buddy.....

Good luck with the others, and keep use posted.

Post some pics of the pool when you get it built! What a cool thing to get

 

[jimbooo]

no offence taken, my litmus test thingy does no2, no3, KH, GH and PH all are at the correct level.

nothing could have bothered him, i've got 2 dwarf gourami who are constantly fighting each other but are scared of the shark cats. one silver shark who is a little too big for the tank (at 3 inches) and not very happy but is only working himself up and not touching the others.

otherwise i'm stumped. i have just spoken to my mate in the LFS who says the plant food is safe with everything. he uses it in his own tanks..

i'll keep you posted... lets hope the others are okay when i get back from work...

oh yes Work thats why i'm sitting at my desk... better do something productive.

Thanks again and have a good day.