Black bullhead catfish

[lindavamp]

Hi I am new to this group and I am having a problem.
I have a 2-1/2 year old black bullhead. It is about 6 inches long.
He was residing in a 20 gal tank up until we recently got our hands on a 55 gal. tank 2 weeks ago. We setup the tank and dropped 2 iridecent shark cats, 6 goldfish and 10 small feeder fish in there to help cure it before putting the bullhead in. We were impatient and put the bullhead in the next day. When we moved the bullhead we put the old filter, the plants from the old tank and about 75% of the water went with it. I noticed the goldfish that we dropped in there were looking a little sick so I scooped them out and sure enough, they developed Ich in the old 20 gal tank. The iridecents started to get the spots so I pulled them out as well. The guy at the store said to try some Melafix. I treated both tanks with the Melafix and now have 3 dead goldfish and 2 dead iridecent shark cats. Now the bullhead is acting weird and flicking himself around the new tank. The 5 feeders that havent been eaten are doing the same. Is this Ich in the new tank? I have Stability and quick cure on hand. My test kit ran out and I have to get another one. What to do? Do I treat the new tank for Ich? Any help is appreciated. This stupid catfish has grown near and dear to our hearts and I don't want anything to happen to him. We've had him since he was under an inch long.

 

[Teelie]

Bullheads get large, too large for an average aquarium under 100 gallons IMO and after 2.5 years, it should be well over a foot long, so it's definitely a stressed fish. The moving process probably further stressed it and since the tank is not cycled, even more stress. It sounds like you dumped the fish and the filter in the middle of a cycle which is going to really cause some stress.

So it's possible it's ich but more than likely it's from the stress and shock of what it's been through. Try using Maracyn II instead of Melafix. It's a good medical treatment and may help the fish, plus its catfish safe unlike a lot of ich treatments out there.