Inactive Catfish

[CatfishLuver]

I have three 6-7 in channel catfish each in there own seperate 30 gal aquariums. The cafish always seem to just seems to be laying on the bottom or in the multiple pvc pipe caves in the tank. I have always seen channels swimming at the top of the tank waiting to be fed. The ownly time I have actualy seen them eat is when I hand fed them earthworms in the summer. They have been eating though because I have had them for quite a while (5 months?). I am trying to get them to be a little more active. Everything seems to be in optimal condiotions though. The lighting is kept at a minimum, the filtration is fine (one emperor 400 for each 30 gal), there are many pvc caves in the tanks, and they get 75% or more water changes each week. I am not really sure what else I can do as all the conditions seem great. Any help would be great! Thanks.

The catfish where also bought not caught in the wild.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I have three 6-7 in channel catfish each in there own seperate 30 gal aquariums. The cafish always seem to just seems to be laying on the bottom or in the multiple pvc pipe caves in the tank. I have always seen channels swimming at the top of the tank waiting to be fed. The ownly time I have actualy seen them eat is when I hand fed them earthworms in the summer. They have been eating though because I have had them for quite a while (5 months?). I am trying to get them to be a little more active. Everything seems to be in optimal condiotions though. The lighting is kept at a minimum, the filtration is fine (one emperor 400 for each 30 gal), there are many pvc caves in the tanks, and they get 75% or more water changes each week. I am not really sure what else I can do as all the conditions seem great. Any help would be great! Thanks.

The catfish where also bought not caught in the wild.

Everyone and myself are going to want to know what your exact pH, temp, Ammonia, Nitrite and nitrate levels are. How hard is your water? When you do 75% changes, are you matching the water temperature and pH before you do it? Have you ever dewormed these guys? Are they growing?

 

[CatfishLuver]

ph: unknown will test later
temp: 70-73F (unheated tank varies with house temp)
ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite:0.25ppm
Nitrate: 10.0ppm
Hardness: unknown

When I change the water is very similar in temp and there is nothing in the tank to alter the ph so the ph of the replacement water would be the same as it is in the tank. I have not dewormed them and I do not really know what that means, but if your asking about parasites they show no signs of ick or interal infections. I have never seen them scratch them self on anything as they would do if they had ick. They are growing. When I bought them they where only 2 1/2 - 3 inch now there are 7-8 inch. I had them all in a single 30 that was heated when they where small and that was when they grew alot becuase of the higher heat, but now that it is colder their metabolism has slowed down. By the way, thanks for replying so quickly!

 

[Wet Whiskers]

The temp is definitely part of the reason they would be inactive. They temp should be maintained at least 75 degrees. They'd probably quite comfortable, healthy, and more active at 78. U of Florida has a website with information from studies about these fish. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa010 They say that 82 degrees is minimum for optimal growth (which implies their metabolism is up and this would make them have more energy and be more active).

As for the water parameters... For such large weekly water changes, there shouldn't be ammonia or nitrite unless there is not enough filtration, the tanks are new, or there is over feeding. What do you have filtering the tanks?

As for pH... pH will drop due to the excretions of the fish and the biological breakdown of ammonia to nitrite then to nitrate. Depending on the waste load in your tank, this can drop quite a bit within a weeks time. I always check the pH and temperature of both my tank and of what I am adding to make sure they are not getting shocked. Personally, I find the finger temperature test not very accurate.

I hope all this information is helpful.

 

[bigcol]

these cats prefer cold water to warm, i have 1 and he just sits there all day long untill a ido my weekly water change and he thrashes through the cold water that i am putting into the tank, i have heard that they do grow bigger in cold water also but mine is at 1' now and he has been in with my rtc's for long time so the temp isnt exactly cold. try dropping the temp of the water slightly and see if this makes them more active

 

[CatfishLuver]

I think dropping te temp would just make them more inactive as the metabolism would slow down as it would do with anyfish. The Channel catfish also grow the fastest at around 85 degrees F, but they need colder waters (65F) to spawn in. These catfish are extremely adaptable to the temp as the live in the hotest summers in the south and the coldest winters in the north where alot of the time the lake might have many inches of ice on the surface of the lake.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

I think dropping te temp would just make them more inactive as the metabolism would slow down as it would do with anyfish. The Channel catfish also grow the fastest at around 85 degrees F, but they need colder waters (65F) to spawn in. These catfish are extremely adaptable to the temp as the live in the hotest summers in the south and the coldest winters in the north where alot of the time the lake might have many inches of ice on the surface of the lake.

Any update on how they're doing?