I'm on my second gulper that lives with a stingray. The first one died after I tried treating it for parasites after it went of it food for 4 months. The other has now done the same and been in a separate tank having not ten for months. They were eating like pigs when i got them and up till now I thought I've been unlucky with parasite. I never fed my current gulper feeders tho. Now thinking about I they both developed a round ring on them that stayed there I guess could have been a sting mark. They never really done much apart from went of their food and have some slight generalised swelling. I'm thinking about adding my apurensis from my grow out soon but having second thoughts. Any input be appreciated.
Gulper catfish stung by ray??
- Thread starter bezza83
- Start date
could have been stung, you have you tried asking the guys in the ray section or in the fish illness section? I am unsure what type of wound is left on fish that are stung by rays. Possibly he harassed the ray and got stung? I don't see a ray stinging for any other reason. There may be other types of infections that I am unaware of that could cause this type of reaction as well. I have never kept gulper but I hear they are rather picky on water conditions as well. Other thoughts that would help others help you better is what are your water params, and what do you feed this guy? Also tank temp. 
You stated you don't feed live but what do you feed?
You stated you don't feed live but what do you feed?Yes I'll put it in the ray section. The gulper used to eat tilapia, large chunks of sardine, mussel, jumbo prawns and had live probably 4 times which were a convict and a couple of Malawi's not goldfish. My Ph is always 8 to 8.5 and gh about 10 to 12. Water change about 50 percent every 5 days tank is 200 gallon. The gulper was feeding fine for about 3 to 4 months then gradually stopped.
They hail from very soft, acidic, Amazon black water.
They need a pH of 7.0 or below: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=961
I'd say these are your likely potential causes: too high a pH and likely too hard a water.
They are sensitive to chemicals too, significantly more so than other cats.
They need a pH of 7.0 or below: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=961
I'd say these are your likely potential causes: too high a pH and likely too hard a water.
They are sensitive to chemicals too, significantly more so than other cats.
I thought that maybe the reason. I think I'll try and bring the ph and gh down and see if anything changes. Thanks tbtb
Glad to help. It was but a guess. Good luck!
It can appear a high maintenance affair to constantly keep the pH and GH/KH down and keep them stable but it is done by many. The easiest way is by collecting nature's RO water - rain water or so it seems. For starters, I'd strongly recommend reading this and the threads linked therein: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37711&hilit=+rain+water
It can appear a high maintenance affair to constantly keep the pH and GH/KH down and keep them stable but it is done by many. The easiest way is by collecting nature's RO water - rain water or so it seems. For starters, I'd strongly recommend reading this and the threads linked therein: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37711&hilit=+rain+water
I'm leaning toward them being stung. I've never had any trouble with Gulpers in general they're very hardy about the only worry you might have is an infection if their skin gets cut. Even that though is unlikely as their very resilient to physical damage, keeping multiple Gulpers together you'll often see them bite each other with little ill effects except maybe scarring. As far as water parameters neutral is what I kept them in, again they're not very demanding with water conditions.
Moving your Apurensis into the tank would be a bad idea in my opinion. They get easily annoyed as they get older and will probably attack the rays with you probably losing both. Happened to me the Apu in a mood attacked three stingrays in one day and got their wrath in full, lost 2 stingrays and the Apu after about a week and a half of him sulking, not eating and generally looking miserable. Though I will say Apu's have been known to shrug off stings better than other fish, still I wouldn't chance it. Apu's will even attack decorations that get in "their" way, when in a mood they just plow and bite through anything that crosses their path. If I attempted a cohab with an Apu again it would be with larger SA/CA cichlids which I do hope to do in the near future.
Moving your Apurensis into the tank would be a bad idea in my opinion. They get easily annoyed as they get older and will probably attack the rays with you probably losing both. Happened to me the Apu in a mood attacked three stingrays in one day and got their wrath in full, lost 2 stingrays and the Apu after about a week and a half of him sulking, not eating and generally looking miserable. Though I will say Apu's have been known to shrug off stings better than other fish, still I wouldn't chance it. Apu's will even attack decorations that get in "their" way, when in a mood they just plow and bite through anything that crosses their path. If I attempted a cohab with an Apu again it would be with larger SA/CA cichlids which I do hope to do in the near future.
Thanks. Is your statement as general as it sounds or you meant rather YOUR water conditions?
Are we talking Cephalosilurus apurensis?
I meant water conditions not quality if that's what your asking. I live in NY so water out of the tap is neutral(7.0 as you had mentioned as well) and as far as I can tell the higher ph etc. didn't affect the Gulpers in any negative way, I was just making the point that I don't think it's necessary to try so hard to mimic their natural waters as long as you don't go to extremes in the opposite direction.
Yes I was talking Cephalosilurus, the OP mentioned it in passing in their original post. Though I admit I assumed when the OP said Apurensis they meant Cephalosilurus, mostly because I don't know of any other Apurensis and I maybe mistaken in my assumption.
Yes, water SOURCE condition/quality, not water-keeping quality.
Good. Fair enough. Neutral is literally 10 times better than pH of 8.0 and ~50 times better than 8.5.
Right. That is the only apurensis I know of too.
Funny, how our experiences differ. My 3 Cephalosilurus were sweethearts (except to each other) but they lived in a 4000 gal 40'x6'x3' pond. Can see them here on page 5: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=29488&hilit=+pet+catfish&start=80
Thanks again for augmenting my replies.