something is wrong w/ my catfish help!
- Thread starter Rollz
- Start date
Just a shot in the dark, your fish could be constipated (it could also be a host of other things, more details on the tank, water chemistry, type of fish, and the fish's diet would help).
If your fish has been eating less fibre than is suitable for its digestive system (this happens, for instance, when fish that are 'designed' to eat algae and plants are fed too meaty a diet) it can become constipated. If you haven't been seeing much poop and the fish is bloated, this could be the case. It's treatable - add some epsom salts to the tank, raise the temp a bit, and feed thawed frozen peas (not the outer shell, just the insides).
The fish could also have intestinal worms, or something else going on. If you provide more details, you'll probably get more answers.
If your fish has been eating less fibre than is suitable for its digestive system (this happens, for instance, when fish that are 'designed' to eat algae and plants are fed too meaty a diet) it can become constipated. If you haven't been seeing much poop and the fish is bloated, this could be the case. It's treatable - add some epsom salts to the tank, raise the temp a bit, and feed thawed frozen peas (not the outer shell, just the insides).
The fish could also have intestinal worms, or something else going on. If you provide more details, you'll probably get more answers.
thanks blinky i thought it might be costipation as well.
but i'm still not quite sure i'll try what you said and here is a little info
the fish is a 14" blue channel catfish
kept in a 25 gal. hexagon
filtration is a combination of under gravel and mechanical
i have one penguin mini filter w/ biowheel and an aqua clear mini w/filterbag and sponge as well as the 100 gpm power head for the undergravel system
i do a 50% water change every two to three weeks feed only every other day and sometimes the niterate levels climb a little high
temperature usually stays at about 78 to 82 deg depending on temperatures
outside.
i live in southern california so the temp gets high sometimes.
oh how do you set up that sweet link with your tank info?
umm he eats just about anything that gets into the tank
he gets the occational earthworm and i feed him hikari cichlid staple floating pellets.
this tank is a temporary situation until i get a pond built in the front yard.
but i'm still not quite sure i'll try what you said and here is a little info
the fish is a 14" blue channel catfish
kept in a 25 gal. hexagon
filtration is a combination of under gravel and mechanical
i have one penguin mini filter w/ biowheel and an aqua clear mini w/filterbag and sponge as well as the 100 gpm power head for the undergravel system
i do a 50% water change every two to three weeks feed only every other day and sometimes the niterate levels climb a little high
temperature usually stays at about 78 to 82 deg depending on temperatures
outside.
i live in southern california so the temp gets high sometimes.
oh how do you set up that sweet link with your tank info?
umm he eats just about anything that gets into the tank
he gets the occational earthworm and i feed him hikari cichlid staple floating pellets.
this tank is a temporary situation until i get a pond built in the front yard.
Last edited:
Hi there...
The link is easy - in the 'Users Aquarium Specs' forum there is a sticky at the start telling you how to use the forum. Just follow the instructions and voila!
I'm glad you know that 25g is WAY to small for a channel cat and you're moving the fish to a pond - if he's 14" now you'd better move quickly!
These fish can (and do) eat just about everything in the wild, but some additional roughage probably wouldn't hurt no matter what, and will certainly help if the problem is constipation.
I'd try adding epsom salts (1 tsp/10g the first day, then the same dosage again the next if no signs of improvement or stress are showing, so you end up with 1tsp/5g)
You might also want to withhold food altogether for a few days (this won't hurt him one bit), and if he's still showing signs of constipation after the salts and no food then thaw out a pea, shell it, and feed it to him. Peas are like fishy laxatives. Feed him nothing else, and wait a day to see what happens.
You should see improvement, but if not, definitely post again and hopefully someone who's got experience with channel cats can help out.
The link is easy - in the 'Users Aquarium Specs' forum there is a sticky at the start telling you how to use the forum. Just follow the instructions and voila!
I'm glad you know that 25g is WAY to small for a channel cat and you're moving the fish to a pond - if he's 14" now you'd better move quickly!
These fish can (and do) eat just about everything in the wild, but some additional roughage probably wouldn't hurt no matter what, and will certainly help if the problem is constipation.
I'd try adding epsom salts (1 tsp/10g the first day, then the same dosage again the next if no signs of improvement or stress are showing, so you end up with 1tsp/5g)
You might also want to withhold food altogether for a few days (this won't hurt him one bit), and if he's still showing signs of constipation after the salts and no food then thaw out a pea, shell it, and feed it to him. Peas are like fishy laxatives. Feed him nothing else, and wait a day to see what happens.
You should see improvement, but if not, definitely post again and hopefully someone who's got experience with channel cats can help out.
Start doing more frequent water changes--channel cats are very messy fish, and the problem could result from water quality. While these cats are hard as nails, they will always do better with clean water. I'd also ease off on the feeding--every third day or so will be plenty. This will reduce the waste concerns (though I'd still go with weekly water changes at least) and also slow his growth down somewhat.
I don't have cichlids so I've never fed floating pellets, but some floating foods tend to expand in the fishes gut if eaten too quickly. Could be the problem. The food isn't allowed to suck up any water before its eaten, so in the stomach it absorbs water and expands.
Also, 25g Hex for a 14" fish?
Cruelty to animals. :mad2
Also, 25g Hex for a 14" fish?
Cruelty to animals. :mad2