check the water params. Usually when they scratch their gills its from high ammonia or nitrites, and that would explain the heavy breathing. Also check for any parasites in the gills also.

well i went to about 10 different fish stores to look at adult sail fin cats, Turns out a bloated belly or rounded belly that seems a little bit to big is common. About every 1/3 had a larger then average belly area. I highly doubt that out of the 200 some i saw, that 60 all had dropsy, and various ...

Hey i have a Syno eupertus (sailfin cat) He is extremely fat in the belly area from his gill to vent, I think its dropsy but he has been that way for 3months now. I have two syno in there and the smaller one also shows a slight belly bulge. Both act normal and are fed sinking catfish wafers ...