Shark catfish/ black fin catfish is lying on the bottom of the tank on it's side...please help?

Question

Hi, thanks for reading. My husband bought 4 fish less than 5 days ago. 2 silver dollar fish, 2 shark catfish (I think this is what they are, I spent 2 hours looking for similar fish online and this looks like them).

Anyway at feeding time we noticed one of the sharks on the bottom. When we put the net in to move it around, he half floated/swam on his side...now he is at the bottom not moving. I don't know if it is dead yet or not, I've never had fish before and I find this whole dying fish thing disconcerting.

The other fish seem fine- will they get sick also? The tank ran for about 3 days before the fish got put in there. My husband brought TetraMin tropical fish flakes....is this sufficient for them? As I did some reading it seems that fish should be eating a bunch of different food.

I don't know if it is too late for that one fish, but I would like to save the other three.

Thank you again.

Here is the closet picture I could find of the fish...

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_jordani.php

thanks for the answers so far- the surviving shark fish is swimming at the top of the tank like it's trying to get air, or like it's eating without the food being put in there. It has been doing this almost all night-
I'm too creeped out to look at the other fish too closely...I'll have my husband 'diagnose' it when he gets up.

Now that I think about it, about 2 days ago the water got cloudly...I told my husband to change it. I'm not sure what he did...maybe that was too much for the fish?

Answer 1

I think you might be okay. I think what you have is a baby iridescent shark. the website you used has a horrible photo of them - you wouldn't recognize the species. These actually play dead when they're stressed. I did a question similar to yours a few days ago - I'll find and post that link. In the meantime, here's a better photo with info on the "play dead" act: http://www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/freshwater_fish/fwf4491.html

ADDITION: see questions & answer in this link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AorneU4kxAc_4E6GX70ZvgPO7BR.?qid=20070317104731AAnDZ7P

If you have a water test kit, check your water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates (or take some of your tank water to your pet store in a clean container and have them test it for you). It's possible that this might be a water quality problem, but the similarity in appearance and the behavior (plus having the other recent question) made me think of this.

Your tank really isn't ready for a lot of fish yet. Three days isn't enough time for your tank to cycle - in other words, to get enough beneficial bacteria to convert ammonia (toxic to fish) to nitrite (also toxic) to nitrate (okay below 40 ppm, but better to be lower). In the next few days/weeks, you're going to have severe cloudiness, and buildup of ammonia. You're going to need to test your water for the above chemicals and do 25% partial water changes when the levels get high - at least once, possibly twice a week. You'll want to change more to get the cloudiness out, but this will only set you back farther in terms of time to keep it clear. The "cloud" is the beginning of your bacterial population building up. The more of it you remove, the longer it will take you to get it established.

Your sharks will probably prefer a sinking food, rather than a flake. Something like shrimp pellets will do. The silver dollars need to have a fair amount of vegetable matter in their diets. Algae wafers, or flakes with spirulina would be best for them in the long term. You can rotate these with the food you've already bought - they'll eat it, but it may not be the best food to use as the main part of their diet.

Also, see these links for cycling, cloudy water, and maintenence:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/Maintenance.htm

Another photo with "play dead" info: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/pangasius.php

ADDITION: I should forewarn you that your silver dollars are prone to a parasite called ich, particularly so when stressed (stress doesn't cause the condition, but if you brought parasites in with the water from the store, stress will weaken the fish's immune system, making them more vunerable to infection). Monitor your water chemistry closely. If you should start to see small white "pimples" on their body or fins, you'll need to treat this. I'm adding another link, so you'll be prepared for this when it happens. Most aquarists will use either the salt and raised temperatures or Quick Cure or malachite green as a remedy - your silver dollars are sensitive to medications.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php Only part of the life cycle occurs on the fish - the rest are free-swimming - so you'll need to treat the entire tank for about 10-14 days.

ADDITION 2: Based on the info in your additions of how he's swimming and gasping at the surface, this now sounds more like an oxygen/ammonia problem. Fish swim at the top and try to gasp when there isn't enough oxygen in the tank - also when ammonia builds up. With cloudy water, the second would be my guess. This would also be supported by the cloudy water. Is this a new tank? Did you cycle it to build up a beneficial bacterial population to convert ammonia (toxic to fish) to nitrite (also toxic), then nitrate. If you have a test kit (you should have kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH for monitoring chemistry in a new tank), I'd advise testing your water for ammonia and/or doing a 25% water change. If the ammonia level builds up, this will decrease the chances for your other fish - you may need to do changes twice a week, depending on how fast this builds up.

I'll provide you with links to info on ammonia poisoning and tank cycling below.

http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/ammonia_poisoning/
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/CloudyWater.htm

Good luck.

Answer 2

Iridescent Shark Catfish

Answer 3

First keep an eye on the fishes gills and make sure they are moving. If you insist on taking him out of the tank keep in mind if you out the fish in a regular bowl with no filtration, ect it wont last the night. So stay away from that idea unless you dont care if you pet lives or dies.

Then get what is called "stress coat" from you local pet shop. This is loaded with Alovera wich is a GREAT herb. I grow it and use it for lost of things. This 7 time out of 10 can help a fish that may be in shock from its move.

If the fish dies use the stress coat on the other fish anyway. It is very good for them and can help with their natural slime coasting to keep any parisites that might be floating in your tank off of them.

Read all directions before usage.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

I agree with the answers here, but also take a sample of your tank water to your pet store and have them check it. If there is something going on with your water, you don't want all your fish to get sick and die from it. And pet stores that sell fish are usually more than willing to do this for you for free or at a very small price. Good luck!

Answer 5

I can't speak for the condition of your tank without seeing it, but I can honestly say, your two fish are either dead, or it will not be long before they are. If they are "floating" or on their sides, they are gone. I'm very sorry.