hi everyone - I did look through previous posts but really don't want to lose my catfish (who does?) it's 18mnths and is normally a barrel of laffs but 2 days ago he decided to leave the tranquility of his corner and flitted about quite uncharacteristically, bumping other fish and nipping in & out of the foliage. Yesterday spent a lot of time putting his head out of water for 1 second ish at a time now he is just lying at an angle almost upside down , appears to be gasping and doing a gentle body wriggle whilst doing so. The tank is a 180l juwel with a 2 month old charcoal replace filter with all the usual - 2 airstones etc.. I've done a 2-% water change and tested for ammonia and nitrItes - ammonia was high b4 water change as were nitirites , but are low now - any help would be gratefully received guys, thanks
HELP what is wrong with my catfish?
- Thread starter laffaminit
- Start date
Well, ammonia and nitrites are certainly a problem. I think I've read that catfish are particularly sensitive to them (but I'm not sure, so don't quote me on that). Did you mean 20% water change, or did you really only do 2%? What are the exact readings now?
Welcome to AC, the best thing you can do for the immediate future, is water change frequently. 2% will not be enough, closer to 25% would be what I would do to start. although if ammonia is still high change more water...
Good luck....
Good luck....
Nice one - I did mean 20% thanks. It died today but I will keep on here to educate myself. I still have no idea why; Gourami, siamese scrapper, tiger barbs, Julii C's all happy as larry but I must admit the catfish was the only real bottom dweller and the ammonia was a bit high a few days back and it sits on the bottom I read - the damage was probably done then - thanks again though this is a great forum site. :-~
Thanks for welcome - i lost my catfish but hey - soldier on as I am n the dark anyway I already posted so thanks again - steep learning curve even after 2 years of keeping !!