i have a catfish that i have had for just over 4 months now and he was swimming around with my other fish just fine about a half hour ago and now something is wronge with him... he is running into everything in my tank even the other fish and laying belly up at the top of my tank for a min at a time and then all the sudden darting off. all the levels in my tank are fine i just checked them and i havent had any other sick fish or fish die for about a month... i dont know what is going on but i really need all the help i can get to make him better anything you can think of would be a great help thank you so much
jess
2007-12-20 17:22:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Have you added anything to your tank recently? Sometimes objects that would seem harmless might have chemicals on them, or otherwise change the water chemistry in ways you wouldn't expect.
And when did you last do a water change? If it's been a while, built up debris in the gravel can alter your pH (lower it), or increase the ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate (you don't mention which parameters you test).
If your catfish looks like it's trying to scrape against objects or gravel in the tank (called "flashing"), it may have a parasite. Since some catfish are scaleless, it makes it easier for parasites to burrow into their skin, so you might not notice them as easily as you would on other fish. Their lack of scales make them more sensitive to medications, so always start with a lower dose (about 1/4 of what's suggested) and increase slowly so your fish can adapt to the chemicals in the water.
Try doing a 50% water change and see if this helps. If not, you might want to consider an antiparasitic medication.
2007-12-20 17:43:37 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry:( it's probably dying.did you have a sudden temperature drop? watch your other fish for similar behaviour. I had a heater failure one winter and lost my arrowanna,2 oscars and a clown knife-very expensive haeter failure-a clue to wether this happened is if all the fish show some sign of distress-mine were swimming with a spiral motion,but in a straight line,like they had partial paralysys(weird to see) well good luck!
2007-12-20 20:07:52 · answer #2 · answered by willoroy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey- it's a fish. they die. sad, i know, but true. I once got one to live for 2 whole years! but i've had others last only 3 months. it's all right, but maybe you should ask the local aquarium/wherever you picked him up...
-hope he's ok!
2007-12-20 17:25:43 · answer #3 · answered by Purple People Eater 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Dude, your fish are going to die..did the water temperature suddenly change?
I hate to say it because it sounds callous, but fish don't stick around for too long...they're kind of disposable!!
Sorry :(
2007-12-20 17:25:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
hate to say it, but git yer fryiog pan out and have a great meal, that fish is about to kick the bucket...ya want fries with it?
2007-12-20 17:25:51 · answer #5 · answered by bubba gumps light 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
hmm thats what my fish was doing just before it died ><
2007-12-20 17:25:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
sounds like dementia.
2007-12-20 17:25:56 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
vet?
2007-12-20 18:50:36 · answer #8 · answered by J & E Goldfish N Guppy Aquariums 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋