Striped raphael cat has protozoal parasite

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divemaster99

Dovii
MFK Member
Jan 10, 2014
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Pittsburgh, PA
Since I transferred my striped raph from my 30 to my 75 he has been acting odd. He just sits around even during feeding (which he didn't used to), he rubs himself off driftwood to "shed" slime coat almost every night now, when he tries to eat (it has been 15 days since successful eating) he can't swallow the food no matter how small. He is in the tank with 6 giant danios and 1 sailfin pleco. I have no clue what he has if anything but am becoming increasingly worried about his and the other fishes health. On another thread of mine one person suggested giving half hour Epsom salt baths once a day. I am worried my other fish may be at risk from whatever he has or possibly me (if I had any open cuts with my hand in the tank) and I don't know what to do. I was told it could be velvet and it seems like it could be, if so how do I treat this. I really need help guys I'm worried my whole tank might be infected eventually. As of now I plan on giving Epsom salt baths until he recovers but I need exact instructions how to.
 
Try treating the fish with API General cure (Prazi/Metro).
 
I just gave him a 10-15 minute salt bath and now he is back in the tank. I'm not turning lights on for the next three days (over which time I will be giving daily salt baths) so HOPEFULLY that helps him.
 
I found this
Something i read in a book is that they require a piece of wood to rub skin off there pectoral spines and if they don't have something to rub on there eyes go cloudy due to over grown skin.
here http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/41717-spotted-raphael-catfish/

I don't know if it helps or not, but it does imply they shed. I've seen sheets of skin fall off my huge raphs before, specifically from the bony head areas. There was no illness, just sloughed skin and a healthy catfish.
 
Day 21 of not eating.
Gave him salt baths for the last three days but I'm done now so I don't over stress him.
is there a risk my other fish could have whya he has, I don't think my danios can out can my pleco?
 
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