Silver-tipped Shark Catfish (Is he sick!?)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
cenecker;1446773; said:
also - your tank is WAYYYYYYYYYyyyyy too small for that species. Not only do columbian shark cats get really big (well over a foot), they are also very very active. Its likely that your water is toxic but additionally shark cats tend to be very spastic and nuerotic when they don't have enough room to stretch.

Don't feel too bad I think thousands of people take home these poor fish every day having no clue what it takes to care for them long term. They were actually MY first fish! I crammed them in a ten gallon where they were reasonably happy for a month or so. Within a year they were trying to jump out of my 55 because it was just too freakin small for them.

Good luck
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Without pics we are simply Assuming that this is a Columbian Shark, which is exuding classic symtoms of ammonia burn, the small tank doesn't help things much but we have been informed already that there are plans for a larger tank in the near future so lets leave that as it is (clearly this person knows enough about the fish to know that it needs a larger home or they wouldn't have felt as if they needed to tell us this from the beginning), At the size that most of these guys are sold.. (between 1-3 inches) it really isn't going to be a problem for the 3 gallon for week it's been there.

Please take the time to clearly read the posts As this type of posting to their threads is not something which is encouraging a young fish keeper, We prefer that they keep coming to a site like MFK and learning about this extremly addicting hobby.
 
cenecker;1446773; said:
also - your tank is WAYYYYYYYYYyyyyy too small for that species. Not only do columbian shark cats get really big (well over a foot), they are also very very active. Its likely that your water is toxic but additionally shark cats tend to be very spastic and nuerotic when they don't have enough room to stretch.

Don't feel too bad I think thousands of people take home these poor fish every day having no clue what it takes to care for them long term. They were actually MY first fish! I crammed them in a ten gallon where they were reasonably happy for a month or so. Within a year they were trying to jump out of my 55 because it was just too freakin small for them.

Good luck
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thanks for the imput, i knew my tank was way to small, and as soon as i get the money im going to upsize major. im working twards that right now.
thanks thought :)
 
basslover34;1446887; said:
Without pics we are simply Assuming that this is a Columbian Shark, which is exuding classic symtoms of ammonia burn, the small tank doesn't help things much but we have been informed already that there are plans for a larger tank in the near future so lets leave that as it is (clearly this person knows enough about the fish to know that it needs a larger home or they wouldn't have felt as if they needed to tell us this from the beginning), At the size that most of these guys are sold.. (between 1-3 inches) it really isn't going to be a problem for the 3 gallon for week it's been there.

Please take the time to clearly read the posts As this type of posting to their threads is not something which is encouraging a young fish keeper, We prefer that they keep coming to a site like MFK and learning about this extremly addicting hobby.
Click to expand...

thanks :) your kind.
 
so you know what i realized, the fish in question when i first got it, he had a scratch on the top of his head, i didnt think much of it, and i dont know exactly how long its been there because i wasnt the one who bought him, but none the less, perhaps he has gotten hit on the head, or scratched by something and that is making him have theses spasms
 
Doubtfull ... but good thinking none the less... As I said I'm leaning heavily towards ammonia burn... Cats are quick to freak in that type of situation and the high strung ones are even quicker... you have a high strung Cat in that Columbian ... they never stop moving and are always on the "prowel"

Keep up with the water changes... get some of the stuff I told you about and you may just make it through the cycling period...

Good luck :)
 
well, ill keep doing the water changes, it really does seem like he needs much more space right away, and i dont think i can give it to him, perhaps ill have to return him to the store. idk yet. i dont think its my tank water per say because my other two fish are totally happy. im going to go to the store as soon as i can, i dont have my own car right now, so im kinda stuck till this weekend which really sucks.
hopefully things will work out.
thank you for your help
ill keep you posted
 
so i took out a piece of decoration in my tank that took up some extra space, i took it out and now theres much more space for him, i think he's doing alot better just from that, he's not swimming around all freakingly or anything now. i've going to keep up on the water changes every other day, cus i dont want to mess up my cycle i already have going on, and when i go to the pet store this weekend ill be able to get some more advice about the medicine for the water.
so we'll see,
i havent seen him have any sort of twicht, and he looks way less stressed out now, so we'll just have to wait and find out.

thanks again for all your help!
 
Buy some live bacteria from your lfs and poor it directly into your filter. Your fish might stand a chance.
 
ok sounds like a good idea, ill pick some up on sunday, thats as soon as ill be able to get out and do it. which sucks but hey, life intervenes, that much we know.
thanks!
 
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