I got a TSN recently on aquabid and received one with gill curl, on the lower gill, the bottom part of the fish. Only one side has curl. Here is what I did, and I think this is the only solution: perform a gilll curl operation. I only recommend to perform on baby ones, 12" and under.
1. First if the gill curl happened in your tank, make sure you change how the tank is maintained, such as upgrade filteration, reduce stock level, bigger % WC, frequent WC, etc.
2. Do some research on gill curl operation on the net with ones that has step by step, and watch the ones on youtube to see how they do it on arowanas. It will give you confident when you do it.
3. Ready for the operation. Find a clean workstation close to the tank. Use a clean bath towel and wet it with tank water and put it on the table. Have a couple thin and sharp scissors, in case one doesn't cut as well and there is a backup. The smaller scissors the better. Have another sharp but flat tool around, like a fork or big scissor. It will serve to lift up and keep the gill open. Burn the tools to kill off bacteria and rinse them in hot water. Don't use clove oil or other sleeping aid. I don't know how its effect on catfish so I don't use it. Now net the fish.
4. Bring the fish onto the wet towel, and wrap it around its body. Wrap it with one or two layers until the towel is heavy enough on the fish's body and it can't struggle. Now the gill will still move, but the head won't, which actually makes the operaton easiler.
5. Cut the gill. Do it fast but slow enough to be precise and with a clean cut, meaning cut it all off in one piece. I guess you can cut many pieces one by one but it takes longer time and more mingling on the fish, which means more stress, not to mention the recovery might have edge spots on the gill. The fish will actually open the gill for you trying to breath and make it easiler for you to use the sharp tool to keep the gill open while you use the other hand with scissors to cut off the curl.
6. After the curling part is cut off, unwrap the fish and use your hand or with the towel to put the fish back into the tank. It should be swimming right away and breathing a slightly fast. The operation out of the water should be between one minute and two minute max.
7. Few weeks later the gill will recover without the curl. Just keep the water maintained in top shape and not overcrowd the tank. That way the cut part won't be infected. You don't even need to add medication if water is well maintained.
1. First if the gill curl happened in your tank, make sure you change how the tank is maintained, such as upgrade filteration, reduce stock level, bigger % WC, frequent WC, etc.
2. Do some research on gill curl operation on the net with ones that has step by step, and watch the ones on youtube to see how they do it on arowanas. It will give you confident when you do it.
3. Ready for the operation. Find a clean workstation close to the tank. Use a clean bath towel and wet it with tank water and put it on the table. Have a couple thin and sharp scissors, in case one doesn't cut as well and there is a backup. The smaller scissors the better. Have another sharp but flat tool around, like a fork or big scissor. It will serve to lift up and keep the gill open. Burn the tools to kill off bacteria and rinse them in hot water. Don't use clove oil or other sleeping aid. I don't know how its effect on catfish so I don't use it. Now net the fish.
4. Bring the fish onto the wet towel, and wrap it around its body. Wrap it with one or two layers until the towel is heavy enough on the fish's body and it can't struggle. Now the gill will still move, but the head won't, which actually makes the operaton easiler.
5. Cut the gill. Do it fast but slow enough to be precise and with a clean cut, meaning cut it all off in one piece. I guess you can cut many pieces one by one but it takes longer time and more mingling on the fish, which means more stress, not to mention the recovery might have edge spots on the gill. The fish will actually open the gill for you trying to breath and make it easiler for you to use the sharp tool to keep the gill open while you use the other hand with scissors to cut off the curl.
6. After the curling part is cut off, unwrap the fish and use your hand or with the towel to put the fish back into the tank. It should be swimming right away and breathing a slightly fast. The operation out of the water should be between one minute and two minute max.
7. Few weeks later the gill will recover without the curl. Just keep the water maintained in top shape and not overcrowd the tank. That way the cut part won't be infected. You don't even need to add medication if water is well maintained.
