I just noticed him while I was rearranging my tanks so I could fit my new 75 gal in my room. Did he just over eat, or is there something more wrong? Parts of his underside have blood spot showing you might be able to make it out in the pictures. Sorry I cannot get better pictures.
REALLY FAT CAT
- Thread starter Raetak
- Start date
Not a catfish. A cyprinid. That infection is in its final stages. I would personally euthannize the fish. If you're desperately determined to save it, you'll need strong antibiotic food AND water treatment. I'd bid him farewell and focus on what's wrong with your tank that allowed this to happen to him.
Okay. Yeah I know he's not a cat, it was just a catchy phrase... I wasn't expecting him/her to be so far gone. What could have caused this? I've never seen this in any of my fish. So it's an infection? I'm baffled by this.
To be honest, even in good tank conditions these things do happen. It's possible he somehow acquired this infection by chance or a minor injury and it's not something he can beat on his own. But to help solve the problem he should be in a quarantine tank (about ten gallons, heated, filtered) to help prevent the spread of this ailment to other fish and monitor his water parameters more closely. Also do run as thorough a diagnostic on the main tank as you can.
With the red seeping through like that, it could be aeromonas or some other unusual bacteria that might be very difficult to treat. If that was my fish and I was determined to save it, I'd hit him with clout. But don't raise the temps, that will only speed up the infection and it can (will) reduce the oxygenation of the water. Chinese Algae Eaters are really more of a subtropical species if I recall, and do best around 75ºF in somewhat hard water. Feed very lightly if at all, and soak his food in the clout or whatever medication you decide to try if you really want to save him. But that looks really painful. I'd clove oil him ASAP and possibly replace him if appropriate.
With the red seeping through like that, it could be aeromonas or some other unusual bacteria that might be very difficult to treat. If that was my fish and I was determined to save it, I'd hit him with clout. But don't raise the temps, that will only speed up the infection and it can (will) reduce the oxygenation of the water. Chinese Algae Eaters are really more of a subtropical species if I recall, and do best around 75ºF in somewhat hard water. Feed very lightly if at all, and soak his food in the clout or whatever medication you decide to try if you really want to save him. But that looks really painful. I'd clove oil him ASAP and possibly replace him if appropriate.
Yeah, I took care of him... I've got like five more where he came from so it wasn't a big deal. I am curious, if I were to feed him (or another infected fish) to another fish, reptile or amphibian is it possible they could acquire the infection? I didn't feed him to anything but I was wondering. If he died from the infection and then was eaten by a fish, reptile, amphibian would/could the infection spread to the animal in question.