I picked up Ratchet, my first and only catfish, last October. Ever since I've had him he had what looked like scratches down both sides which I assumed was his lateral line. Recently I noticed the marks were getting whiter but he's fast and skittish so I never got a good look. Tonight I decided to catch him and check him out, and I'm pretty devastated by what I found. I don't have much experience with disease/illness in fish (been lucky so far I guess) but the only thing I can find that would explain these marks is HLLE - Head and Lateral Line Erosion.
Tanksize: 20g Long
Filtration: (1) Marineland Pengiun 200 w/ extra biomax
Temperature: 82 degrees F
Tankmates: 5 Congo Tetras & 1 Polypterus senegalus
*I will test the water tommorrow, but this tank has been established for months and never had any water quality issues.*
Diet: Tetramin Tropical Crisps, NLS sinking pellets, Hikari Carnivore, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, frozen daphnia, & frozen peas. Also grazes on any algae he can find in the tank.
What do you guys think? The tetras and bichir are in great shape, and Ratchet is still active, eating well, & dominating the tank so I don't know what to do. I do have a QT tank in storage and I always stuff my filters with extra biomax, so I could have the tank up in a few hours if need be.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer
Tanksize: 20g Long
Filtration: (1) Marineland Pengiun 200 w/ extra biomax
Temperature: 82 degrees F
Tankmates: 5 Congo Tetras & 1 Polypterus senegalus
*I will test the water tommorrow, but this tank has been established for months and never had any water quality issues.*
Diet: Tetramin Tropical Crisps, NLS sinking pellets, Hikari Carnivore, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, frozen daphnia, & frozen peas. Also grazes on any algae he can find in the tank.
What do you guys think? The tetras and bichir are in great shape, and Ratchet is still active, eating well, & dominating the tank so I don't know what to do. I do have a QT tank in storage and I always stuff my filters with extra biomax, so I could have the tank up in a few hours if need be.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer
