Thank you for the insight Viktor. I feel bad I killed them, trying to help them. But I learned something from this experience and hope to never repeat it again.

I will keep a better eye on my nitrite levels and go with water changes over medicines when there is a problem. I'm doing water 25 ...

The whole thing is weird. But I realized earlier this morning that there is one survivor: the kissing/pink Gourami. But Hoover is one mighty tough fish.

I just checked water parameters again and only nitrite is elevated:

Ph = 6.6
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Nitrate = 40 ppm
Nitrite = 1.0 ppm
Water temp = 78 ...

Ethel died overnight. In fact, my whole tank died. Doing water check again - although all was stable yesterday. Wish I knew what happened. Sad day here.

Viktor Jarikov wrote:Looks to me like hybrid #1 in Cat-eLog.

Sounds like it may be an external parasite and the fish tries to shake / scratch it off itself.

How can determine if it's a parasite and treat it?

Thank you so much for the feedback!

First, I'm not sure what type USD catfish I have. I've had her (pretty sure she's female) for five years. Her name is Ethel.

She lives in a 40 gallon breeder tank filtered by a Fluval 306 canister tank. She lives with a Gourami and three Red-eye Tetras. Water is in good condition and temperature is ...

Hi andywoolloo,

I just ran a test (using a real test kit - not strips). Here's the results:

Ammonia - 0 ppm

Nitrate - 30 ppm (my kit says 40 is normal?)

Nitrite - 0 ppm

I did add another hiding space - she's not interested. She seems content sleep out in the open as well as in one of the logs ...

Do you have enough caves for them or driftwood tangles pr pvc pipe? They need probably 4 to choose from.

what are your tank parameters, ie; Ammonia, PH, Nitrite , Nitrate , temp, filtration, feeding schedule, what foods fed? tank maintenace schedule, filter maintenance schedule?

Might help ...

Hi,

I have two of these guys in my 55 gallon tank. They share it with 5 zebra danios, 8 neon tetras, 6 serpea tetras, and 4 raspboras. I was told they are an Upside-Down Catfish and the do swim upside down most of the time. Ethel, pictured here, is about six - six 1/2 inches long and likes to play ...