Tigrinis Help Needed

[RobS]

Ok, so I ordered a 6” Tigrinus catfish, with the intent of adding it to my 300 gallon tank. Well, it came in at 3-4 inches and very skinny. (I’m not happy) I had to put it somewhere else, so he’s in a 55 gallon sandy bottom grow out tank with a bunch of 1 inch Mbuna fry. (Not ideal, he’ll be moving soon.)

Anyway, it has a reddish gill that’s bothering it and desperately needs to eat. I chopped up a small earthworm and he ignored it and ignored pellets. The seller told me frozen bloodworms would be best and to treat him with some salt for the gill issue. I’ll try that today

You guys have any thoughts on how to plump up this runt?

 

[tlindsey]

reddish gill

Possibly ammonia burn.

The seller told me frozen bloodworms would be best and to treat him with some salt for the gill issue.

Good advise. The little Tigrinis probably will eat some of the fry.

 

[wednesday13]

+1… youve prob placed it in the best place u could have. Endless supply of clean healthy feeders for a while to bulk up on. There hard to get off feeders IME but for bringing it up to good health looks like ur on the right track already .

 

[phreeflow]

It doesn’t look that bad. They all look like that when they arrive at that age. It’s also normal to see a bit of red through their operculum at that size. A bit of salt and a tank full of fry is great til it fattens up

 

[Eric A]

How’s this guy going Rob?

 

[RobS]

How’s this guy going Rob?

Thanks for asking! He’s doing well, he made it through a rough couple of weeks after he arrived, he’s been in a 55 gallon tank. He didn’t eat for over a week and then slowly started taking blood worms. Now he devours them and I’m trying to get him to take pellets as well. Another couple of weeks and I’m hoping to move him to my 300 gallon.

 

[Eric A]

Great news, has he put on size now?