Help!! My Panda Catfish Seem To Be Sick?

Hi! I am a beginner and learning on how to maintain a healthy freshwater tank. I have a 5 gallon tank that I am strating off with. It is a little older than a month now and I recently added two Panda catfish. I have two tetras and two small snails as well. I realized yesterday that my panda catfish were covered in a white fuzz. I have read about it and know that it can be one of two things. They seem to be still doing well, it is day 2 now. One of the catfish have both barbels are missing. When I got him, he did have one missing but now its both and he seems to be in distress. Yesterday I did a 25% water change. Please help. I kind of have no clue what I am doing here but I am eager to learn and seek advice as well as tips. I want to do something to help them today so is there a way I can put them in quarantine?

 

HI Elona
I couldn't view any pictures if you posted any. It sounds like one of your pandas was I jured when you bought him. Never but fish that have nipped fins or signs of illness or abuse.

Pandas are great and pretty hardy. It sounds like they may have ick. A fish disease. You can buy medication for the water at a pet store or wal-mart. I suggest a pet store over wal-mart if you can find one open. Without treatment you will lose them. They do need quarantined.

As a side note you have a lot in a 5 gallon tank. It's best to go bigger. Also bigger is better when you encounter a disease. Good luck. I love Pandas they are adorable. I have one in the tank with my leopard puffer and they do great together.

 

It's not ich. It's a slime coat issue of some sort. What are your water parameters? Ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte and pH? What temp do you keep your tank. And also a 5 gallon is to small for the Cories in the long run. As for missing barbells what is that substrate you have? They require a smooth substrate such as rounded pebbles or better yet sand, some planted substrates are alright as some of them are made of softer material that isn't rough or sharp against their barbells?

 

Take a sample of your water to a pet store and ask them to test it. Petco in my area have knowledgeable people. I have a great private owned aquatic store near me and the owner is always glad to teach me new things. Especially with my saltwater tank. See if you can find someone help you along.

 

Water parameters may tell you...fungus is a possibility..but that is often secondary to another issue...check your water parameters, amminia, nitrite and PH. Like abive, go to your life of u don't have a test kit