i recently purchased a catfish from the petsmart near by and it was labeled pangasius. i got him yesterday and he is about 3 in but he has been acting strangely. he will sit in one place on the bottom and stop swimming completely and almost tip over. then he will swim off somewhere after resting like that for a while. he is also not eating yet. so my question is, is that normal behavior, do they usually eat at nighttime, and will this catfish require aquarium salt?
fish help
- Thread starter amv123
- Start date
Sorry man, I'm not sure. But I did have a spotted rapheal once that just hung out upside down under my filter many years ago. It would just hang out upside down all day and then come out to feed.
I also used to have clown loaches that would lay on their sides most of the days.
What I'm getting is that while I don't know what's up with your fish. You should expect them to have weird behaviors.
I also used to have clown loaches that would lay on their sides most of the days.
What I'm getting is that while I don't know what's up with your fish. You should expect them to have weird behaviors.
This is normal behavior. Pangasius cats are known for playing dead. Also they are easily startled and will run into the sides of the tank.
How big is your tank? These fish require very large tanks even as young fish because they are easily startled and can easily hurt themselves. You do not need aquarium salt. It is a marketing ploy to get people to buy aquarium salt. They will eat at night, but i've had ones that would eat during the day.
How big is your tank? These fish require very large tanks even as young fish because they are easily startled and can easily hurt themselves. You do not need aquarium salt. It is a marketing ploy to get people to buy aquarium salt. They will eat at night, but i've had ones that would eat during the day.
k thanks hes in a 120g rite now he is alot more active at night for sure so i left some pellets at the bottom in case he feels like eating during the night but now that i know they are known to play dead im not so worried and when i have seen if do that i tried poking him to see what was up and he darted away. do you guys think his skiddishness will go away as he matures?
it should go away as the fish gets more comfortable in its surroundings. But someone who has had a large specimen would be better able to tell you its adult temperment.
THey play dead, they are known to stop eating. I have had mine for over 16 years and he played dead alot when he was younger. When stressed they stop eating. I always add aquarium salt to my water changes. ID sharks seem to recover from all possible sickness with salt. It is not a cure all but it works for me.