AboutShorty Expertise ~my dad got mad and took away my internet. dont kno when ill have it back. sorry...~
I will answer all questions as best I can, and if I am unsure of the answer, I will be willing to do research. I can answer questions about tetras, especially neon tetras. I can also answer questions on common diseases and parasites and how to treat them, and tank setups, maintenance, and cleaning. I can provide info. on cichlids (including breeding), goldfish, raising and breeding fancy guppies, and feeding your fish. If I don’t know the answer to your question, I will research and tell you my findings.
Experience I am 16 years old, but I have owned at least one fish tank since I was in elementary school. I now have a tank dedicated to raising and breeding fancy guppies, with much success. I have another tank with goldfish, which I’ve had the longest, and a larger tank with convict cichlid cichlids, which I have successfully bred, jewel cichlids, and an oscar. I’ve also raised and bred other cichlids as well. I used to have two other tanks, one with angel fish, and the other with tetras, which I recently got rid of. I’ve raised other fish such as catfish and gouramis along the way too. Since I have had fish so long I know much about diseases, and parasites, and how to treat them.
At the time i am writing this now i have:
1 Oscar
2 Jewel Cichlids
1 betta
6 goldfish
1 Kuhli loach
1 Rainbow shark
1 pleco
25 guppies
6 adult convict cichlids
30 young convict cichlids
Organizations I am hoping to volunteer at Hawk Creek.
Education/Credentials im only 16.... but I've been on the honor role my whole life(averages in the mid 90's), and im taking college courses in highschool.
Expert: Shorty Date: 8/29/2007 Subject: Catfish with sores
Question I have a 30 gal fresh water tank with 2 gold fish (5in and 2in), 3 gourami (5in, 3in, 2in), an albino catfish (3in), a black bug eyed one (2 in), a suckerfish (3 in), and grey catfish (5in).
The grey catfish has two big scrapes on both sides as if it's been skinned. We noticed this morning and I took it out and put it in a 5 gal tank on its own with water from the original tank. It seemed despondent and slow but perked up a bit and can be seen eating. I added a little salt thinking that might sterilize the wound.
I can see the meat through the scrapes and it looks clean but painful and substantial. I'm guessing the gourami were eating at it - but I've nothing to support that supposition. Could it be an infection?
What can I do to spur healing or just come to a proper diagnosis? Should I change the water every day? The fish was barely visible it was so small when we got it 5 months ago - now it is an impressive 4 or so inches long .. everyone seems quite healthy before today.
Answer Hey Tanya! i would say the sores are from the catfish scraping on something or the gouramis attacking it. Gouramis can be very viscous when they get older. i had some once. they pretty much killed everything else off in the tank. i would medicate the tank w/ MelaFix b/cuz it helps heal wounds and sores. ur catfish is probably slow and despondent because its stressed out. being attacked can really stress a fish out. i wouldnt change the water everyday because this can stress a fish out even more. i would do a 25% water change every other day.. hope ur catfish gets better soon!
p.s. i would make sure that the tank has a cover on it. one day i came home to find my 6 year old catfish dead on the floor b/cuz it jumped out of the tank!
