Sick Channel Cat, Need Help.

[xspainx69]

My 11 Inch Channel Cat recently started acting a bit strange. He keeps flashing into the substrate and stays still in a corner. He refuses to eat anything.

Yesterday I whipped out the AP Master Kit and tested the water and the water is in tip top shape. 0 Ammonia,0 Nitrite,0 Nitrate , pH- 6.6


My Largemouth Bass and Bluegill and Spotted Sunfish are all just fine and eating well.

The Channel Cat is not showing any symptoms of Ick or any visible spots.

I put a little salt in the tank and Im just hoping he'll get better. Im not really sure what it could be.

Their all in a 75 Gallon tank. LMB 6 Inches, Bluegill 6 inchs, Spotted Sunfish 4 inches. Channel Cat 11 inches.

Its a bit on the crowded side for the size of the tank. But Im really concerned about the Channel Cats health.

Anybody have an ideas as to what could be causing this?

 

[hmoobvwj]

Are you sure the nitrate is a 0? (I dont think its possible is it?)
But maybe your other fish are just bullying him, might be under stress.

 

[jag123]

You didn't mention any hiding places for the cat - I would provide somewhere to hide and turn lights off or put some floating plants in there for some security. He sounds like a big boy in a little tank too - offer him a hideout.

 

[xspainx69]

I bought him a hiding log, you know one of those aquarium ornaments. But he cant fit inside it anymore cause he's a big boy!

I dont know.....If worse comes to worse then the only alternative is a water change.

 

[teleost]

I'm with hmoobvwj. You're test kit is obviously not working and need to replace it or you're not using it correctly. Since this info is not accurate, you need to get good info before anyone can help you in that department.

Scratching occasionally is normal and catfish are pretty lethargic. Are you sure it's not eating? If so, how do you know?

 

[xspainx69]

I'm with hmoobvwj. You're test kit is obviously not working and need to replace it or you're not using it correctly. Since this info is not accurate, you need to get good info before anyone can help you in that department.

Scratching occasionally is normal and catfish are pretty lethargic. Are you sure it's not eating? If so, how do you know?

Hey Uland!

Yeah Im having a problem with this Cat again! You might be right, Im gonna try the test kit again right now and post the results.

He's not eating because when I throw in some Cichlid floating pellets he doesnt go berserk like always and probe the surface looking for the food in order to inhale it.

When I threw in some feeders, they swam past his mouth and he did nothing.

Im gonna go do another water test. BRB

 

[xspainx69]

Results of New Water Parameter test:

pH: 6.0 yellow or possibly below chart level.

Ammonia: 0.50 ppm

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 0 ppm


I added some Ammo-Lock as a precaution.

I see no other choice except to make a water change tomorrow morning.

Im gonna go with 50 % water change on a 75 Gallon tank. What do you think? More? 70%?

Thanks again for the advice !
(Eheim 2217)

 

[teleost]

What test kit and type are you using? You must have nitrate if you have any biological filtration (or you have the tank packed with live plants).

 

[xspainx69]

What test kit and type are you using? You must have nitrate if you have any biological filtration (or you have the tank packed with live plants).

AP Master Test Kit. The Nitrate test tube was like a dark yellowish color..The next color on the chart was orange and that would have been 50 PPm's but it was like an in between type of color.

 

[xspainx69]

Ok so I finally did a 60 % water change and now the water is murky.

I retested the water 2 days later after the water change and the Ammonia sky rocketed and my pH was super low.... Nitrites and Nitrates were ok.


Im not sure how doing a big water worsened the water parameters......

Honestly Im very confused because if a water change wont help the situation then what will????

I serviced the Eheim 2217 3 months ago.....

I just dont get it.....Anyone have any suggestions about this situation?

Thanks