PlanetCatfish.com

Hi guys, havnt been posting for a while but i have an urgent question.

i woke up yesterday morning to find that my electric catfish had an abrasion on its chest, its red and it looks like the sckin has split to show its flesh, there no whole or anything just like a red cut.

hes still feeding perfectly and acting normally, do you think he perhaps scraped his underside ona rock.

my question is, will this be ok and if not what should i do?


thanks very mutch in advance
Julian

I would just monitor closely for signs of infection and leave it be if there are none.

Something must have startled him. If he lives on his own, then perhaps it was a 'nightmare'(involuntary reaction to outside tank movement(?)). Otherwise expect a few (other) casualties to surface with the next few days, assuming that they haven't been eaten.

These fish are commonly kept as juveniles by youngsters in metal bowls! within Central Africa, (with frequent waterchanges,obviously), and are regarded as very lucky to the household. Rather like Dragonfish or Goldfish (within Japan or China).

Needless to say, they react 'naturally' to the intrusion and presence of strangers and abnormal circumstances. Ouch!

As the injury appears not to be serious; try not to be concerned. A fish as sensitive as this will pick up any negative 'vibes'.

Try also to appear to be 'nonchalant'( apparently indifferent), but keep an open 'eye'. See my p.m.





Nick

heres some pics of him and his home, he seems to be getting there,




u can just about see the cut in the first picture.
it seems to be improving.

by the way the tank is a 135 gallon long.
cheers
Julian

Hi Julian,

Ah yes, (s)he seems to be recovering well. Fingers crossed.

Do you think that he might benefit from a slightly more suitable hiding place, such as a clay pipe?

Going slightly off-topic: I see that you have what appears to be a lovely shoal of Neolamprologous tretochephalus. They can be a wee bit fiesty, even at c.14 - 15 cm (reputedly), max.

What are your tank parameters, and do you know roughly where the 'leccy cat was sourced from? I was thinking about pH in particular.

Meanwhile, many thanks for the photos. Marvellous tank by the way - I'm quite envious .




Nick

yes, all appears to be going well, the shoal of striped fish are infact a young colony of cyphotilapia frontosa (Burundi)and will in time grow to 30cm

as for the electric catfish, the wounds getting there.
do you recommend i change rocks, perhaps smoother ones?
thanks again
Julian

the rocks are fine, but you should create a true cave, a tunnel in fact.

the fish should be able to rest stretched horizontal on the floor of that cave, with no bend spine or being wedged.
and that cave should be a 'swim through'; two ends open in fact.