capekate

Hello... since there is no specific place under the catfish photos to add one of the bumblebee catfish, I will add one here. They really are a nice looking fish.
My guy, squiggly has been out during the daytime for a day now and that is not normal for a nocturnal catfish. I hope he is ok. Ive had him since June 13th and he has normally hiding during the day inside the decoration. yesterday I did a water change of about35% and some vacuming and now he is out of his decoration all day and seems to be breathing awfully hard. Tho I dont know how these guys react, since he is normally hiding, I dont know if this is normal behavior for him. The water perimeters are fine, ammonia 0; nitrate 10, nitrite 0. Im not sure if he is ok, openning his mouth alot while breathing. It almost looks like labored breathing. I dont know what to do for him, other than keep and eye on him and see if he goes back to his normal routine.
here is a photo of squiggly that I took today..

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COBettaCouple

great looking fish there! maybe he's adjusting some to the schedule of his environment, being a pet fish? i'm not sure.. i know i read about corys and platys being mainly active at night, but ours were always active all day long.

capekate

thanks!
I remember now the last time I cleanned the tank and moved his 'cave' and a few decorations around he didnt go right back in. So hopefully this is the case today. He just doesnt like change..and doesnt want his decoration, ( inside the steer skull) moved around! Or maybe he didnt like listening to the otos going to town eating the diatoms off the top of the skull! hahah.. havent seen the top of that decoration looking so good as since I bought it or right after I cleanned it. I hope he will be ok... he is pretty neat, even if I never get to see him when the lights are on. But the lights have been on all day.. and he is out in the light, I hope hes ok..
btw I have read a few posts from time to time from other posters who have the bumblebee catfish any chance of adding this species to the list of cat fish?

COBettaCouple

that depends - how much money to you have? :P

yea, it's likely that he could be upset over change or just thrown off a bit and will go back to his routine.

capekate

I have NOOoooo money!!! hehheehe..... :P I have fishpockets around here...

COBettaCouple

well, it's hard for me to do much without financial motivation.. i mean, these messages don't type themselves.. and after the sumo wrestlers.. well! i'll pass your suggestion on.

capekate

lol.. if i had to rely on financial motivation to get me to do anything.. id be sittin around all day on the fishforum! Ohh i do that already.. never mind!!

COBettaCouple

lol.. hey! that's my line!

capekate

COBettaCouple

congrats Capekate! mike read your post and added the bumblee catfish forum!

Tom

So I am guessing he is doing fine now? I still wish you luck with him.
Tom

capekate

Hi Tom
so far so good. Tho Squiggly hasn't gone back into his 'cave' as yet. Still outside in corners, under plants. So I guess that heavy breathing and movement of the gills is normal for him. I just don't understand why he hasn't gone back into his little home after I did the tank cleanning. Any diversion from his normal routine, I have to wonder what is wrong. Do I remember that you also had a bumblebee catfish? Thanks for asking about him.

COBettaCouple

cats do seem to be "heavy breathers".. don't let yours near the phone, ok? maybe Squiggly has gotten a major case of curiousity?

capekate

Squiggley passed away yesterday am. Saw a little blood on a spot of him and dont know what happened to the poor guy. It could have been a result of me fishing him out of the fake plant that his body was floating in tho. Poor lil guy...

COBettaCouple

awww.. we're sorry that you lost little squiggly.. i wish i had an idea as to what got him.

voiceless_kat

Kate, so sorry that you lost Squiggly!!! He was a beauty!

Val