SICK - questions regarding 2 baby Redtail Cats

[Stroudz]

Hi everyone,
I have 2 baby redtail catfish in a 55 gallon with other catfish. The smallest of the redtails has developed what my LFS says is external parasites. I've treated the tank (every other day - 3 treatments total) and dipped the one fish 2 times in a Ich prevention dip (recomended by my LFS). That did nothing but create small red lumps on the fish which almost looked like tiny bloodblisters. After a couple days, I decided to treat with a different external parasite med called Parasite Clear made by Jungle. Yesterday was the first day of treatment and the red lumps are gone, along with the discoloration of the skin, but the fish has now developed an odd mucous ball at its anus. The fish is still gasping (I'm slowly lowering the tank temp down from the recommended 82 degrees which was what my LFS told me to do with the last meds) and he is mainly staying at the top of the tank, although will swim around somewhat. He was fed yesterday and had a normal appetite though. Can anyone help?? I can take pictures and explain more in detail through email. Thank you in advance for your help!

[Barbie]

Treating your fish without a firm diagnosis of what ails them is NEVER a good idea. What exactly are the symptoms you were treating initially? You don't say how large the tank is, or how long it has been set up? I always recommend a 30% water change daily when you are medicating a tank. It can't hurt, and it definitely will help the fish handle the treatment, not to mention keep the water at optimum quality. More information will make your chances much better of a recommendation that will actually help you in the long run.

Barbie

[Stroudz]

Hi Barbie,
The tank is 55 gallon, has been up and running for a year and half now. No problems until now. I have a penguin 330 bio-wheel system on it and will be installing a canister filter soon because as these cats get bigger the waste will increase. Temp is normally between 76 and 78 and everyone seems to thrive at those perameters and are growing like crazy. I have plenty of oxygen and regulate water constantly. Never had a water problem.
I've had these two baby redtials for about 3 months and just a couple of weeks ago the smaller one started showing symptoms. This morning though, he is looking MUCH better. I know that it is an external parasite, but my LFS recomended the Ich dip, just in case. I have only dipped him the 2 times. The first tank treatment was for external parasites also, with a product my LFS said worked best. (They specialize in catfish and have 5 redtails right now, from a 3" long baby to a 4 ft. female. ) The first meds didnt seem to do anything at all. I think the new stuff I'm using is making a big difference. I dont medicate again until late tonight with a 25% water change.
I wrote in to see if anyone else has seen these problems and had any experience with them as I've dealt with parasites before in the past (about 3 years ago with a different tank with new fish), but have never seen the red lumps occur after a treatment and in a fish that has been in the tank this long with no new fish added.
Thanks in advance for your help!

[general-sherman]

You don't mention actually having checked your nitrite or ammonia, three months seems like long enough for a penguin 330 bio-wheel to be overloaded. A 55 (4ft?) is too small for a growout tank for two redtails. To growout ONE redtail I'd recommend a 6'x2'x2', with massive filtration. I can't believe a shop that specialises in catfish sold you two for a 55!

[Stroudz]

Hello again,
Ok, everyone is jumping to way too many conclusions here...
I check ALL of my water perameters, including Nitrates, Nitrites, Amonia, PH, etc... Nitrates are at 12, nitrites 0, amonia 0 and PH 7.0. I have been keeping fish for about 19 years now, so this is not a new hobby. The larger of these 2 redtails is only 3.5 inches long right now. Obviously they will not grow up in this tank. The next tank they will be getting is 300 gallon as soon as they are ready to move out of the 55 gallon. A 55 gallon is plenty big enough for 2 fish of 3.5" long max and a few other small fish. When these two are ready to move out of the 300 gallon, they will be going into a diving tank. The LFS knows what my setup is and what the next tank sizes are. As I stated in my last comment, I am adding a canister filter to this tank ALONG with the 330.
My original question, was - has anyone else dealt with the mucous problem in a baby redtail or other catfish and was it a problem related to a parasite infection?
Thanks!

[coelacanth]

Ok, everyone is jumping to way too many conclusions here...

That's because you didn't provide enough information to start with. If someone simply says they have two baby RTCs in a 55 gallon aquarium, then people on this Forum are going to comment, and rightly so.

My original question, was - has anyone else dealt with the mucous problem in a baby redtail or other catfish and was it a problem related to a parasite infection?

Mucus production can be related to a number of things, including water quality and parasites.
I'm puzzled by your LFS recommending a 'dip' treatment. If it was for supposed Ichthyophthirius, when encysted on the fish there is very little that will have any effect on them without also potentially harming the fish. If not actually for Ich, exactly what external parasite did the LFS say they thought it was?
I would stick with the medication you are now using, along with the water changes.