please someone help me save my rtc . hes dying

[harimauvortex]

my rtc is 4 inches and housed in a 30gal together with a rtcxtsn , tsn , 5 sailfin catfish , 3 plecos , a comet , bunch of tetras and 2 raphaels . the problem now is that he doesnt have the energy like usual . he swims and sloly going down tail first and looks as if he didnt even have the power to overcome the fall . yes he looks like he was falling from the top . . he didnt even want to go into his hideout anymore . i dont think it was the other catfishes since they all get along just fine .

the water is clean , and safe ive checked . could it possibly be the 5 comets that i fed him . he ate hikari brine shrimp exclusively but i ran out of it and every fish store there is is closed due to chinese new year . what do i do . i dont want my rambo to die .

before this , my claris was having that same exact behaviour before he died . i dont know what to do . please someone help me

 

[Stab]

With the acception of tetras (I hope they are not pacus) and raphaels your tank is too small for EITHER ONE of its inhabitants even if kept singly. ANd yes, even though they are stil small. Unless drastic measures are taken, that RTC is just a first in a series of fish loisses you are about to experience in the next couple of weeks. By drastic I mean getting rid of all catfish with the possible exception of raphaels RIGHT NOW. Unless you have a bigger tank (at this point you will need a minimum of a 75G and that will only last you 3-6 months tops), you've got to bring your fish back to the store, give the to someone who can house thm properly, heck, even euthanasing them at this point would be more humane!

You have to do your research before buying fish. That RTC and TSN will eventually grow to 3 feet in lenght (that is if they survive). Not sure what kind of plecos you have but if they are commons, max size can very well exceed 18". And as for sailfin cats, again, depending in the species, they could easily reach 18-24".

Once more, I advise you to find a way to rehouse ALL of your fish before its too late

 

[harimauvortex]

im aware of everything ( the monster gonna be thing ) . this is just a temporary tank for the kid fish . so no one knows whats th eproblem ?

thank you anyway



please some one help me

 

[santoury]

Even if you ACTUALLY were using that tank as a nursery, which you obviously are not, unfortunately, a 30 gallon could only house ONE of those babies for the next few months.

Can you say "Stress" ?? Can you say "Bad water parameters" ?? What else should I add? Is the tank heated to proper temps even? Not gonna say any more here. I'm sure the others will fill in....

 

[Cappuccino]

Even if you ACTUALLY were using that tank as a nursery, which you obviously are not, unfortunately, a 30 gallon could only house ONE of those babies for the next few months.

Can you say "Stress" ?? Can you say "Bad water parameters" ?? What else should I add? Is the tank heated to proper temps even? Not gonna say any more here. I'm sure the others will fill in....

I know you don't want to get this, but he's right. You think is way too small and the ammonia levels, although not indicating, are way too high. You have purchased fish that go rapidly and do not belong in a 30 gallon tank. Now you have two people that have given you the same advice, do with it as you please.

 

[ng80]

The tank is overstocked already and red tail cats are sensitive to water conditions. You say the water conditions are perfect but the nitrates must be really high. the waste these fish output is huge even when small.
even if the fish survive unless your going to need the facilites of a public aquarium i suggest you return them while there still alive.

unforunately you are not going to get much sympathy for your situation on this site i only feel sorry for your fish!
there so much literature availible on big catfish you should have the facilities for them before you buy them.

 

[Mentzer]

You have 14 fish in a 30g plus tetras!!! You are obviously not aware of maximum stocking rates. Rule of thumb 1" of fish per gallon for at least 6 months, then 2" fish per gallon after filter/s are mature. These are guidelines for normal and the huge predatory cats (even as little juveniles) produce enourmous amounts of waste. I sometimes saw my 31.5" rtc years ago produce a HUGE ploom of ammonia.
30 gallons is the capacity of the FILTERS I would use for the tank inhabitants you have. Your fish are a) probably dying (poisoning/low oxgen) in their own waste products and b) The stress of all those bottom dwellers in such a small tank, it's impossibly lop sided in stocking towards bottom dwellers, whether they are small or not they are extremely territorial. In such confined space the added stress to the losing fish will be enough to kill a fish whose immune system is already depressed. Advice? Decide which fish you like best (I mean 2 or 3 max) and take the rest to your lfs tomorrow. Meantime, start doing 33-50% wtare changes, minimise feeding and test all your water perameters daily. You won't like this but I am sure it shall help.

 

[necrocanis]

I agree on nitrates. If the tank is already established than your nitrates may be the problem. Check them if you are able. or like others said start doing %50 water changes daily. Start medicating with melafix. Are the gill covers red? Any visible damage on his body. I have noticed my cats to do that in the past when I was very inexpirienced and after I tested the water I found high nitrate levels. You should probably upgrade your tanks. I would have your current tank, a 75gal, and a 125 gal just for starters. Put the big cats in the 125, and smaller fish between the 75 and 30 gals. I would hope that in buying these fish and knowing their sizes you would have already anticipated the possible growth of 2-4 inches per month on rtc and tsn babies. If you do not already have these tanks availible then I feel your fish are doomed and you should do like everyone else said and either euthanize them or return them. Hope this helps

 

[chrisdef15]

You have 14 fish in a 30g plus tetras!!! You are obviously not aware of maximum stocking rates. Rule of thumb 1" of fish per gallon for at least 6 months, then 2" fish per gallon after filter/s are mature. These are guidelines for normal and the huge predatory cats

Not trying to flame you but thats a very bad rule there. It kinda works with tetras and smaller stuff but going off your rules that means i could put a 30" fish in a 15 gallon tank just as long as i let it mature for 6 months. Very bad rule and def shouldnt be followed.

 

[Bderick67]

You have 14 fish in a 30g plus tetras!!! You are obviously not aware of maximum stocking rates. Rule of thumb 1" of fish per gallon for at least 6 months, then 2" fish per gallon after filter/s are mature. These are guidelines for normal and the huge predatory cats (even as little juveniles) produce enourmous amounts of waste. I sometimes saw my 31.5" rtc years ago produce a HUGE ploom of ammonia.
30 gallons is the capacity of the FILTERS I would use for the tank inhabitants you have. Your fish are a) probably dying (poisoning/low oxgen) in their own waste products and b) The stress of all those bottom dwellers in such a small tank, it's impossibly lop sided in stocking towards bottom dwellers, whether they are small or not they are extremely territorial. In such confined space the added stress to the losing fish will be enough to kill a fish whose immune system is already depressed. Advice? Decide which fish you like best (I mean 2 or 3 max) and take the rest to your lfs tomorrow. Meantime, start doing 33-50% wtare changes, minimise feeding and test all your water perameters daily. You won't like this but I am sure it shall help.

Well this guideline is OK for fish 2" and under. But your right on the nose with everything else stated.

Research is the key, as stated above, take back as many of the fish you can.