Tigrinus Colour Fade

[redtailrob]

Hi all.

I have a stunning 18" Tig that I've had for about 2 yrs.

Lately the colour on his flanks is fading badly, it almost looks like it's being rubbed of, as strange as that may sound as it's patchy

He is still eating fine & otherwise seems as healthy as before but this pattern fade baffles me.

Any ideas?

Tank set up, is 8 foot, 315 Gallon / 1400 Litres.
temp 78 o F
NH4 less than 0.1
Nitrite less tha 1mg/l
pH 7.2
Tank is filtered by a large 45Gallon sump conatining various media

 

[snow]

What are you feeding him though?

 

[redtailrob]

A mixture- Large shelled Prawns, pieces of whitefish, Squid,
Also gets sinking pellets & Mascivore.

Same as all my Big cats.

 

[Industrial]

I thought tigrinus catfish only got to a foot or so?

Can you post pictures?

 

[redtailrob]

Oh no, they get much bigger than a foot buddy.
Generally max out around 20-24" but you'll find lots of keepers with experiences of fish above & beyond 24"

Picture attached, bear in mind this photo is about 6 months old before the patterns started to fade

 

[amazonfishman]

What are the tank mates? Maybe something like a flagtail prochilodus is sucking its slime coat off, that or rubbing itself against driftwood?