Catfish appears to have scrapes on its belly

[SimonWoodstock]

I just noticed my fat a-- banjo cat trying to swim around and it lookes like his belly has 2 places that could be from rubbing against rocks.

Does this sound like what it may be?
Should i medicate the water for him?
Should i remove my plants and other fish temporarily and turn my tank into gravel/sand instead of all gravel?

I am going to cut back on his food i think. He always goes crazy as soon and as the food lands anywhere near him and he scarfs it down within seconds. So i didnt think he was over fed until i saw him trying to swim upwards and it wasnt working out like he had planned (also when i noticed his belly against the glass and the 2 light spots on his huge belly).

thanks!

[VoodooChild]

It sounds like scrapes. Perhaps you can get rid of any sort of sharp rocks in there, if you have any. I wouldn't bother medicating. It wouldn't be worth it just for scrapes, and cats do not do well with medication at all. Perhaps you could get a decorative piece of slate. If you drop the food on that, it'd be smooth enough to not cause too much damage and it would look nice. Just a thought. Feeding less will help, at least if he's gorging himself during every feeding. Cats tend to get huge bulging stomachs, and that will only work against him. Nonetheless, keep on eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse.

[BK]

are you sure itsnotshedding its skin?

[SimonWoodstock]

Do Banjo Cats shed there skin? I will look into this.

[SimonWoodstock]

It does shed its skin afterall! If this is what it is doing, it will be a relief. I still plan on adding the sandtrap idea that Waterbaby gave me so it can burrow. It seems like you told me they shed before, but i ruled that out and thought it was his illness since it died the next day. I had the same illness on a pleco i had a while back. Anyway, i didnt look into it because of his death.

here is where i found out the info. incase someone else is interested.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/1997-06.htm

thanks

[BK]

i hope yours turns out to be alright. there nice fish.


i have one in my 120 gallon i never see because he is constantly buried. the only way i know he is still alive is when i discover his skin sheds while gravel vacing.

i use very small gravel/large sand in that tank and he has done fine so far

http://ourworld.cs.com/kraut491/gravel.bmp