i have a brown bullhead i raised from a baby. he's now 12in. and in my 70 gal. well about a week ago he started swimming frantically against the glass like trying to get out. he's also tore around the top of the tank like a nascar driver throwing water everywhere a half doz. times i know of. I'm surprised he hasn't jumped out altogether. today i noticed a 2in. cut on his side. i checked my water parameters , except for a trace or nitrate, no problems. also my warmouth and pumpkinseed seem fine other than trying to hide from the catfish freaking out! i don't see any parasites. my water temps at 76f. gave away my 2 smaller cats last week. I'm thinking maybe i gave away his woman and he misses her! any of you catfish people see this behavior before? i mean he never stops it at the glass. light on or off. used to only come out mostly at night and would just lazily patrol the tank for his food then go hide again. somethings definitely not right. any ideas? also how do i help him heal his wound? could it be fatal? i can see the pink flesh underneath.
my 'cats gone nuts!
Started by
Guest_jacksmelt_*
, Sep 03 2014 12:39 PM
6 replies to this topic
#2
Michael Wolfe
-
- Board of Directors
-
- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 03 September 2014 - 01:22 PM
Shiners have a famous fear hormone that they emit when stressed. I wonder if he picked up some chemical signal from his fellow cats being chased and captured? Maybe a largish water change would dilute it out? Just a crazy idea...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#3
littlen
-
- NANFA Member
- Washington, D.C.
Posted 03 September 2014 - 01:40 PM
I concur with Michael's idea of a large water change. It can't hurt anything. Also, try rearranging the decor (rocks, wood, etc) in the tank. Adding salt will help to prevent secondary infection. Otherwise, wounds like you are describing heal very quickly on fish.
Is your bullhead still eating regularly when food is offered? Does it have a place to hide where it is dark and the fish would feel secure? Are the lights on all day/is there any ambient light 24/7 that could be illuminating the tank--even at night? Maybe a kitchen light, or something? I have seen a lot of psychological issues develop in fish when they aren't able to sleep. (Irregular swimming/behaviors and going off feed are the two main side-effects). Quickly resolved once they are able to rest at night when it is dark.
Is your bullhead still eating regularly when food is offered? Does it have a place to hide where it is dark and the fish would feel secure? Are the lights on all day/is there any ambient light 24/7 that could be illuminating the tank--even at night? Maybe a kitchen light, or something? I have seen a lot of psychological issues develop in fish when they aren't able to sleep. (Irregular swimming/behaviors and going off feed are the two main side-effects). Quickly resolved once they are able to rest at night when it is dark.
Nick L.
#4
Guest_Skipjack_*
Guest_Skipjack_*
-
- Guests
Posted 03 September 2014 - 06:32 PM
I'll tell you, I have dealt with something very similar. I was stray voltage from a faulty filter pump. Easy test- turn off all electricity. Lights. Filter. Heater, probably don't have one. If the fish changes, that is the problem. Then turn one on at a time to isolate the problem.
#5
Guest_jacksmelt_*
Guest_jacksmelt_*
-
- Guests
Posted 05 October 2014 - 07:08 PM
calmed down some but still swimming constantly against the glass. i tried everything mentioned on here. maybe he's just realized he's the big kahuna in the tank now. he eats well and even bit me good the other day while cleaning his tank. he's fully healed and is developing a hump on his back. this is one of brian zimmermans silver flecked florida strain browns. wish i was better w/ posting pics. he's quite a handsome cat! hope he gets even bigger!
#6
gitano
-
- NANFA Member
Posted 28 November 2014 - 07:39 PM
I have one of those. I'd love to see pictures of yours. If you email some images to me I will see that they get posted here.
Paul
It just noticed that there is a contributor to this thread that has accused me of wanting to "steal" other people's pictures. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but, if you are concerned about that or if that member "warns" you about me, let me offer instead a tutorial on how to post pictures here. In the alternative, you can ask someone else to do it for you. I just want to see the fish. Also, I would be happy to GIVE you pictures of mine. No "intellectual property" issues whatsoever.
Paul
Paul
It just noticed that there is a contributor to this thread that has accused me of wanting to "steal" other people's pictures. Nothing could be farther from the truth, but, if you are concerned about that or if that member "warns" you about me, let me offer instead a tutorial on how to post pictures here. In the alternative, you can ask someone else to do it for you. I just want to see the fish. Also, I would be happy to GIVE you pictures of mine. No "intellectual property" issues whatsoever.
Paul
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
NANFA Youtube Channel 
