Sucking Catfish Non-Stop Circling On Side Of Tank

[MylesVinno]

Hi everyone,
 
Today, my sucking catfish started going to the right hand side of the tank and swimming in large circles along the glass repeatedly, in a very fast paced manner. He has never done this before and is still doing it as I type 

. 
A possible reason that I think could have caused it was that today I gave my 5 guppies to someone else, so now the catfish is alone, could that cause this behaviour?
The tank is around 24 litres and its parameters are in-check. 
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated 

 

[fluttermoth]

Can you post the actual numbers from your tests please, including pH and hardness if you know them.
 
Do you know what species your catfish is? Any chance of a picture?

 

[MylesVinno]

Can you post the actual numbers from your tests please, including pH and hardness if you know them.
 
Do you know what species your catfish is? Any chance of a picture?

I do not have a test kit, I only have an ammonia alert and it says that the ammonia level is safe.
 
The species of the fish is Gyrinocheilus aymonieri.
Photo of it: http/i328.photobucket.com/albums/l334/MylesVinno/Capture_zpskrhb1qd5.png 
 
Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

I would do an immediate large water change, making sure the new water is warmed and dechlorinated, of course. Try and do at least 75% and see if he improves at all. Don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!
 
In the longer term, you need a set of test kits of your own. No fishkeeper should be without a means of properly testing water at any time. Also, your tank is far, far too small. CAE can get to around a foot long.

 

[MylesVinno]

I would do an immediate large water change, making sure the new water is warmed and dechlorinated, of course. Try and do at least 75% and see if he improves at all. Don't forget to switch your heater/filter off first!
 
In the longer term, you need a set of test kits of your own. No fishkeeper should be without a means of properly testing water at any time. Also, your tank is far, far too small. CAE can get to around a foot long.

If I do a 75% water change, there will only be about 8cm of depth in the water, is that ok?

 

[fluttermoth]

As long as the fish has enough water to cover it, yes it's fine.

 

[MylesVinno]

As long as the fish has enough water to cover it, yes it's fine.

Ok thanks, I will do the water change now.

 

[fluttermoth]

Great
 
Give the fish half an hour or so to settle, and post back if it's still circling

 

[MylesVinno]

Great

 
Give the fish half an hour or so to settle, and post back if it's still circling

I have completed the water change and he seems to have calm down. I will let you know in the morning if his erratic behaviour has fully ceased. 

 

[MylesVinno]

 

Great

 
Give the fish half an hour or so to settle, and post back if it's still circling

I have completed the water change and he seems to have calm down. I will let you know in the morning if his erratic behaviour has fully ceased. 

 

This morning, he still seems to be doing it, but a little bit slower than before, he is also occasionally sitting on the bottom for a couple of seconds, swimming up to near the top along the glass, and then coming back down again.
 
It also turns out that we have a ph testing kit for the pool so I will test the water later today.

 

[MylesVinno]

 

 


Great

 
Give the fish half an hour or so to settle, and post back if it's still circling

I have completed the water change and he seems to have calm down. I will let you know in the morning if his erratic behaviour has fully ceased. 

 

This morning, he still seems to be doing it, but a little bit slower than before, he is also occasionally sitting on the bottom for a couple of seconds, swimming up to near the top along the glass, and then coming back down again.
 
It also turns out that we have a ph testing kit for the pool so I will test the water later today.
 


He seems to have calmed down now as he isn't doing any of the strange movement patterns any more. Thanks for all the advice! 

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm glad to hear he's acting more normally.
 
You really must, as a matter of urgency, get the fish a larger tank, and yourself some proper (liquid or tablet based) test kits; you need to be able to test for nitrite, nitrate and pH, as well as ammonia.