Raphael Catfish In Trouble

In need of advice on what to do correctly to save my spotted raphael catfish, went to turn of the light in the tank and he was out from hiding (see picture).


I have had him for about 2 weeks done ~20% water changes two times so far and gravel vacuumed. Atm idk what my levels are for the water having them tested soon as I wake up.

This is my first aqaurium in a very long time and I'm at a loss of what's wrong and how to properly correct it so I can save him. Any help is greatly appreciated its late at night sorry for the long post.

 

Hello! Welcome to fishlore!

The Raphael is a beauty! Tell me what’s going on other than not hiding. Eating? Pooing? Color changes? Tankmates?

Is there any way you could get a liquid test kit when you go out to get the water tested? If you get a chance read about the nitrogen cycle. It really is the key to a healthy tank.

 

water test results
ph- 7.6
highPH- 7.8
Ammonia- between 0-0.25 ppm
nitrate - 20-40ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
the person at the store where I got the fish said it was his first time doing these type of tests, the manager who is more knowledgeable will be there tues. so ill be going back then.

tank mates- 1x redfin shark and 1x tiny pleco
while I was there I picked up some melafix and permafix

no issues with feeding or pooing. I did notice that he has like a green tinge on him pictures aren't able to clearly show it.

 

He looks really beat up!!! I think he was attacked.
His fins should NOT be red and I see a lot of sores on the body ! He is in very bad physical condition.

 

He looks really beat up!!! I think he was attacked.
His fins should NOT be red and I see a lot of sores on the body ! He is in very bad physical condition.

Thank you for that! Describe the sores please.

 

water test results
ph- 7.6
highPH- 7.8
Ammonia- between 0-0.25 ppm
nitrate - 20-40ppm
nitrite- 0ppm
the person at the store where I got the fish said it was his first time doing these type of tests, the manager who is more knowledgeable will be there tues. so ill be going back then.

tank mates- 1x redfin shark and 1x tiny pleco
while I was there I picked up some melafix and permafix

no issues with feeding or pooing. I did notice that he has like a green tinge on him pictures aren't able to clearly show it.

Do you use Prime? Can you get some methylene blue like nowish? Is there anything in the tank it could’ve gotten hurt on/under? Tankmates bothering him?

 

Thank you for that! Describe the sores please.

Most notably...there should be no red coloring on this fish. And I pointed out a couple of the sores. He looks like a fish that has been really beat up.

 

Most notably...there should be no red coloring on this fish. And I pointed out a couple of the sores. He looks like a fish that has been really beat up.

View attachment 474231

I know about the coloring. But I can’t see the sores. Do they look injury related as opposed to infection? Fight? I was wondering if anything could’ve fallen on him?

 

I know about the coloring. But I can’t see the sores. Do they look injury related as opposed to infection? Fight? I was wondering if anything could’ve fallen on him?

I think he was badly injured. How was he injured? I do not know. Becsuse raphaels are tough fish! I have had a spotted one and a striped one for 5+ years. They are solid fish.

The Op has had him for just a couple weeks. Question is, did he look like that at the time of purchase? Or was the red tail and pectoral fin a new development? Along with the wounds on the body?

 

he unfortunately passed away while I was at work =( thanks for the help , I'm still worried about the pleco and the redfin shark, what can I do to keep them safe?

he looked fine when I first got him unless the issues weren't able to be seen then and just progressed the longer I had him but doubtful, not once did I observe the redfin chasing or even going near "choppers" hiding place

 

Sorry you lost him.
I believe he was injured. Therefore your other fish are not in danger.
Are they behaving normal?

 

So far the other two seem to be acting normal, though my daughter did point out that the top fin of the skarky the redfin is just a little white at the tip and same with the pleco. I have no idea how the raphael catfish got beat up he was bigger than the redfin which is why I got him, looked up info on the raphael cat fish before we bought him to make sure he'd be fine

 

So far the other two seem to be acting normal, though my daughter did point out that the top fin of the skarky the redfin is just a little white at the tip and same with the pleco. I have no idea how the raphael catfish got beat up he was bigger than the redfin which is why I got him, looked up info on the raphael cat fish before we bought him to make sure he'd be fine

If he did not have the red fins and stuff when you brought him home, then he got injured in your tank somehow. And unless you accidentally smushed him or something, it had to be the other fish.

If he was the biggest in the tank....and knowing how solid raphaels are....I'm going to guess he was weak and dying already....and the others were capitalizing on his weakness.

If he were healthy and strong...I can't imagine a small RTS or small pleco could do that kind of damage to him. My raphaels live with jack Dempseys!!