Redtail Catfish help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
K

KMKgirl1605

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jul 21, 2011
20
1
16
Everett, WA
Hello all,

This is my first post to a forum ever so I apologize for any improper etiquette, but I really need some advice. I purchased a 3" Redtail catfish about a month and a half ago (don't worry, I have a plan for a 3,000-5,000 gallon pond in the works) and every time he eats, his stomach gets very bloated. He did fine the first 2 weeks or so, then practically overnight his stomach swelled up very large and he couldn't swim off the ground. I fed primarily sinking carnivore pellets, bloodworms and small cocktail shrimp(fresh). I looked online for any information and the closest thing I could find was bloat, and the article said use an anti-parasitic medication. I treated with Prazi pro and his stomach slowly shrank back to normal over 2-3 days (I stopped feeding when his stomach swelled.) I fed him some carnivore pellets once his stomach returned to normal, and the next day he was bloated again. Every time I've fed him since he has swelled at least slightly. I spoke to my LFS and they said he was most likely constipated and has bacteria built up in his stomach from rotting food. They recommended feeding him algae wafers for a week to give him more fiber, but he refuses to eat them. Their only other suggestion was an epsom salt bath, but I'd rather not have to go that far because it is so stressful for the fish. I do 60-75% water changes every 2-3 days, and my water parameters are perfect: 0 ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, ph is about 6.8. Tank is a 40 gallon breeder with no substrate. I have a 50gal. Marineland power filter, a 170 gph sponge filter, a 90gal. air pump, and a 30gal. powerhead. He is the only one in the tank and only about 6" long. Any advice you could offer me to get his stomach back on track would be greatly appreciated, I dont understand what I'm doing wrong...

Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading!
 
The pellets expand in his stomach. Don't overbred him just feed less but more often
 
Thanks for the speedy reply, but I'm not so sure thats the problem. I've tried feeding him only one pellet and soaking them in water for a few hours before giving them to him and his stomach swelled up just the same every time. It also swells when he has only bloodworms, which don't really expand do they?...I've only been giving him 2-3 pellets per day or every other day and I'm pretty sure he should be eating more than that at 5-6". I think he should be growing faster too....
 
I have the same exact thing.I bought about 1 1\2 months ago a Red-tail catfish about 1 1\2" and he is in a 40 gal breeder w/ 2 phantom knife fish.

It was my first fish and i regret to say he was in a 10gallon tank that what set up the day i bought him. I had no clue what i was buying and never had fish before. Sadly, he had to endure high amonia/ nitrite when the tank was starting up and about 1 week later i got him into the 40 gallon breeder. I run the XP2 Rena Canister filter with 2 bottom sponges, bio stars,carbon/fluval lab series nitrite and nitrate remover, and 2 clarifying sponges w/ an 80 gal air pump w\ 2 outs 1 going to a 6inch micro bubble stone and 1 going to a sponge filter.

I used "API Bio Zyme +" to start the cycle and it was horrible doing almost nothing. I bought "Special Blend" and "Nite Out 2" for the cycle and it worked great. It started my cycle better in 3 days then "stress zyme+" in 3 weeks. Though Special blend smelt horrible it kinda reassured me things where going to be ok. I used "Prime" to detox when amonia and nitrite levels got to high.

Now that everything is balanced out in the cycle ive started feeding him more and 3 sinking pellets is like a mid-day snack to him. I usually feed him 3 "pinkies" (baby mice which i buy frozen and sterilized) a week. Every day i feed him 3-4 pellets in the morning. I switch food nightly between krill, beef heart, and silversides. He also shares blood-worms with the knife-fish. All food besides the mice is Hakari. His belly gets slightly larger after a big meal, but nothing i would consider "Bloating" and it never lasts for over an hour or 2. I monitor my chemical levels daily to make sure over-feeding deosnt cause a spike in dangerous amonia or nitrite.

I will advise you to take my advice as "amatuer" as the fish hobby is new to me. By you description, your catfish bloating to that extent is not regular. Please post pictures as I will compare it to mine and with in the next day ill post a photo of mine after a hearty meal for you to compare. 60-70% water change that often is alot, have you tested your local tap water and what products do you add to the new tap water? I do about 15-20% every 5 days. Is there anything as far as decor in the tank? A place for him to hide thats dark enough for him to sleep during the day?

I find there is 3 (4 if you include plants) natural bio filters present in a tank set-up to deal with you fish's waste, plant decomp, and uneaten food. These 3 filters are you bacteria in your "Substrate" gravel, sand ect., bacteria in your "Water", and bacteria in your "Filter" bio balls, bio stars, ceramic ect. These bacteria colonies create a natural cycle to breakdown your tanks waste, remember a filter doesn't "take-away" your tanks waste it just seperate's its still neccesary for it to get broken down by bacteria.This is absolutely vital to your fish's immune system and over-all health because it keeps toxins at 0. With a well established tank I would say only a 25-35% water change a week is more then enough. With no substrate, massive water changes, and a small bio filter on your overhead filter its goin to be hard to keep toxin levels low when he is healthy again and starts growing and eating more. I would advise getting a substrate. I went cheap (7$) and bought a40 lb bag of river rocks and pea pebbles from HD. I put 1\2 a bag of each in. Just make sure to rinse and sanitize them, there pretty dirty from home depot. If you have the money you can buy special subsrate from the store for around 40$ that is suppose to hold larger bacteria colonies thus helping the waste in your tank. I had an overhead filter and switched to canister for all my tanks. It holds a larger amount of everything most inportant the extra-large bio filter. The current from the canister also eliminates the powerhead.

My over-all advice is to find a vet who specializes in freshwater fish and who is well recomended. If you call your local vet they will most likely know someone who can make a visit as most vets who deal with fish do. Talk to them about the things i discussed with you. Talking to the guys at the fish store is absolutely pointless ive found. Ive recieved better advice on this forum. But a specialized vet is the best source. While its hard to say for sure from just a description, if the bloating is as severe as you say then your fish is 100% sick and should be seen by a professional immediately. A fish vet house visit should be 100-150$, but make sure they are a licensed vet not just a hobbist.

Please post photos of bloated stomach and i will compare to mine. Also if anyone else thinks my advice is wrong feel free to correct me as i am still an amatuer.
 
brich999 said:
The pellets expand in his stomach. Don't overbred him just feed less but more often
Click to expand...

Hikari "sinkinh carnivore pellets" DO NOT EXPAND. All fish pellets ive seen do not expand as that would be dangerous to your fish, kinda like pigeons and rice. Check your label or your manufactures web-site if they do expand throw them out and buy new one, I suggest Hikari
 
Spyder001 USA said:
Hikari "sinkinh carnivore pellets" DO NOT EXPAND. All fish pellets ive seen do not expand as that would be dangerous to your fish, kinda like pigeons and rice. Check your label or your manufactures web-site if they do expand throw them out and buy new one, I suggest Hikari
Click to expand...

Hikari cichlid gold expands.
 
Thank you all for the help. He is not quite as fat as the one in the picture, but the stomach was that bloated, yes. I removed the subsrate because many sites say they sometimes eat the gravel (which I saw him do once) and I was concerned that could be part of his problem. Over the last few days I have managed to trick him into eating a few pieces of algae wafer, I'd throw a couple carnivore pellets in (Hikari) then the algae wafers and he'd suck them up before he realized what they were lol. He seems to be doing better. His stomach still gets a little bit swollen but nowhere near as big as before and it seems to pass much quicker. If it swells huge again I will try to get a picture, but hes a lil camera shy lol. I have tested my tapwater and everything is ideal. I have lots of great places for him to hide. He seems happy so I am hoping that with careful feeding he will start to grow at a healthier rate....Thanks again!
DSCN0236.JPG
Isn't he cute??? :)

DSCN0236.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom