What is wrong with my fish?

Question

Hi, I have a 13" blue channel catfish in a 55 gallon tank, and over the past week he has begun to flip upside down and then right himself. It seems as if he is losing his balance or something. Other than that, he is acting like he usually does-he eats, and he never has any trouble properly swimming around. The problem only happens when he is resting at the bottom of the tank, which is perfectly normal for him to do. He just tilts to the side and then goes back up. I read somewhere that this is an effect of chilling, but he is a coldwater fish, and can live anywhere from 40-80 degrees, and the tank is about 64. He did lose half his right whisker in an illness two months ago, and that is generally the side he tilts over to. The levels of toxins in the tank are raised, but in a tank this size there is nothing I can do to keep them that far down other than doing a 100% water change every day. After all he has always had levels like that and he has lived for 2 years and has always been fine

Answer 1

Sounds like swim bladder disease.

What is a swim bladder?
Also known as the gas bladder or air bladder, it is an internal organ of a fish that controls its buoyancy. It is a gas-filled sac with walls that are impermeable to gases. By controlling the amount of gas in this sac, the fish is able to control its buoyancy.
Cause
There can be different causes, and different causes require different treatment.

Bacteria – A bacteria attack could cause inflammation at the epithelium of the sac, making the sac walls too thick for proper gas diffusion. Thus, the fish is now stuck at certain buoyancy, making swimming very difficult.

Diet – Feeding low-quality food that soaks up water and expand inside the fish can cause food impactions.

Answer 2

Of course you must know that the tank is too small for a fish that size... but I just had to say it anyway.

There is no particular disease that would cause that behavior so it is most likely a air bubble in his digestive track. Those can get trapped for several days to a few weeks and cause this type of imbalance. The missing whisker shouldn't have anything to do with it at all, that's just coincidence. he whislers are not involved in the balance system for the fish in any way.

Another thought is that he is literally drifting as he sleeps, not uncommon among larger fishes and seen often in catfish in general. You did note that the only time you see him doing this is when he is sitting on the bottom.

I wouldn't worry about the water conditions too much either. Obviously channel cats can live in some pretty nasty water, so doing a good 50% water change once a week and well filtering the water will keep him in pretty good shape.

All in all I doubt you have anything to worry about

Answer 3

The ammonia and nitrites are probably starting to get to him. How in two years is the tank not cycled yet? These toxins can act like mold poisoning to people. A little bit at a time allows one to live for a while before the effects start building to something big, then all at once the problems start.

Answer 4

I think the tank is much too small for the fish. Also his whiskers could be part of his balance problem.

Answer 5

Check your temps in the tank,make sure it is ok. You can put medication in the water which might help if the fish is sick, check with a fish store. The broken whisker can put its balence off.

Answer 6

your tank water chemistry is wrong. cat fish are incredibly sensitive to this and the first sign of your watter being wrong is the catfish loosing its barbels(whiskers). the swim bladder disease will be linked to the poor watter conditions. you can keep doing watter changes. 10% per day and buy some thing called API Stress coat with aloe veara. this could help.

Answer 7

Since he lost a whisker, I'd say he is a little off balance. Like real cats, they use their whiskers to "feel around" and he's a little woozy. He should get used to it soon.

Answer 8

I would say raise the temperature after all you said they can live from 40-80 so bring it into the 70's im sure you have heat lamps but other then that as long as he is eating and moving im sure he is okay.

Answer 9

it is possible he has an air bubble. that happens to my gold fish every once in a while. and they are fine after they pass them. may take a few days.

Answer 10

i think u should get him put him out of his Missouri because it sounds like he is very sick and i think he may be dieing and i feel it would be better to help him instead of letting him suffer. he may only have a couple of days or more but i would need to fully examine it. sorry about your fish.