Dark_Rider2k3

Okay so here is the situation:

A week or 2 ago my banjo catfish became lazy... I didn't think much as he was eating fine, and burrowing and all that good stuff.. but then he just.. stopped burrowing.. like.. he didn't care to hide...

and then.. he just wouldn't eat..

so I moved him into my QT tank (where he is now).. and even now he won't burrow.. when he was first put in he did, which surprised me, but then after a few days he just stopped..

I am positive he is eating, as well.. he is fine still.. he just won't burrow and at night isn't like his usual self (he just has no motivation.. he just lays around.. and swims every so often.. instead of how he used to be where he'd swim like crazy and explore everything.. and not stop but to take some breaks..)

any ideas? should I treat for an internal parasite? I didn't want to medicate him unless necessary..

thanks a lot everyone!!!

Dark_Rider2k3

I hate to double post but I'm really worried.

Today I thought he was dead.. but as soon as I went to take him out he showed his signs of life..

anyone?

cerianthus

Do you happen to see white slime/coating coming off its body?
I've seen them play dead also.
Unless ther is no problem with water condition and shows no external symptoms, I would wait on Med. Without knowing, very hard to determine what Med to use.
Doctor will/should not prescribe Med w/o diagnose.
LMK if there are water issues (pH, NH3, NO2) and/or specific symptoms.

Dark_Rider2k3

Water params. for my QT match what is in my 55 (in my aquarium info).

No slime/coating coming off his body.. he looks fine.

So is that normal? I actually had my net in there and picked him up.. and a little bit after having him in the net.. just as i was going to take him out.. he moved...

Matt

It seems like he is fine maybe he might be depressed for some reason

Do u have a pretty girl in the tank with him??

If u dont have a girl maybe he is lonely or maybe he wants to settle down and have a family

i would recommend getting him a nice looking lady that will make him happy

From Matt

Shawnie

you arent cycled if you have nitrites and catfish are very very sensitive to water issues....get some prime water conditioner and do daily water changes until you have finished your cycle

Dark_Rider2k3

I may have mixed up Nitrites and Nitrates in my sig so sorry

I'll double check water params. when I go home tonight (@ school right now)

edit:

and do you really think he is lonely?

cerianthus

It's normal behavior for Banjo playing dead. Hold it in your hand it can also make croaking sound..
Even though more frequent water change is better for all the inhabitant, just be careful not to fluctuate the temperature.

As far as nitrite, it behave the same way the cabon monoxide havs an affect on human, where nitite/carbon monoxide bind to hemoglobin and depleting place for gas exchange to take place. Thus less incoming of oxygen and more carbon dioxide reamins in the blood which will drop the pH of the blood. I believe this is called death by acidosis.
The main idea is to avoid any exposure to both ammonia and nitrite.
Water condition in QT will detriorate faster since ususally in smaller volume of water unless you are using water & filter (Sponge Filter) from main tank.
I would not do anything as long as pH is not at either extremes and NH3, NO2 are OK.
Just monitor. Could shut off the light right after small feeding since they are more active at night

cerianthus

By the way, I know for fact that when kept in groups, tend to cluster together most of time.
Lonely, I guess you could ask your catfish when you take him out. I bet you it will respond to you with some sort of sound. LOL

sirdarksol

I have had a cory die of an unidentifiable cause. There was nothing physically wrong with little Cthulhu, he just stopped swimming around. He didn't respond to any treatments, and died a couple of days later. At the time, I didn't know that cories were schooling fish, and I only had the one. I believe that he died from loneliness.

cerianthus

Although shoaling fish will do better in shoals, I had kept many cories individually in breeding/rearing tank to eat excess food w/o such event. I never asked the fish, maybe you can. LOL

Dark_Rider2k3

Wow LOTS of responses.

So first off.. today I went and got a Pleco for my 55 =D (pics in a little bit). While I was there, I asked about my banjo cat (don't worry, they are very knowledgeable). The girl I asked didn't know, but she knew someone who did, who told me that this is normal. He said they play dead (like cerianthus said just now), and that this is normal. He told me not to expect them to be so active, and that he was most likely getting familiar with his surroundings or something.. he said that what i'm seeing is normal banjo cat behavior and not to worry... at first I was skeptical and did not belive him, but after seeing cerianthus' post I am at ease now . I will place him back into the 55 and out of QT!

I also heard about them making the croaking sound, but have not picked him up as i heard they are pretty good biters lol..

@ Sirdarksol-

That would make me so sad if that was the reason.. but i too believe that anything can die from lonliness =(.

Oh, and I would get more banjo catfish (i'd get 2 more), but my LFS has not had them since July.. I was lucky I could get one!

cerianthus

Glad to hear you are somewhat relieved. Keep montoring the fish and I'm sure you will do that. I've seen them dig into the gravel/sand so fine substratem is better for them, IMO.
try p/u Aquarium Atlas by Baensch where I learned more than any other books. I'm surprise since BC is pretty common cats on the market.
Enjoy your tank, buddy! & LMK if you need any assistance.

sirdarksol

I am not the only one who's had this happen. In addition, other cats and cat-like fish (like kuhli loaches) have had similar instances among the folks on the forum.
It's great that it's worked for you long-term, but most folks have had problems with their fish being stressed in cases like this.

Hopefully the banjo will see the pleco as a friend and hang around with it. I've got stranger pairings in my community.