Featherfin Missing Chunk From Stomach

[Fishywish]

Today I have noticed a large chunk missing from the stomach/towards tail of my smallest featherfin catfish. The other two are much larger now, although when I first got them they were all the same size, and I am beginning to believe they could have bitten him?

If this is a disease I have never experienced it before, there appears to be no fungus/ich/slime/parasites, just a large chunk about the diameter of a large pea missing. He is still very active, although spent most of yesterday hovering upside down, but then he did this anyway, and is still eating fine.

What can I do? Should I medicate? I currently have no quarantine tank as I'm looking after a friends axolotl so have no way to seperate them. The tank is 200L and there is plenty of hiding spaces, water parameters are perfect, water temperature has crept up slowly slowly to 27 degrees although I'm turning this back down to around 25 but I doubt this could have caused anything.

Any advise is greatly appreciated. As said, it doesn't appear to affect him but the poor fellow is only 3 inches long and that size chunk is about the same as someone biting my #16##### off!!!

Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

Once fish lay upside down they rarely make it.

You could try a bacterial med but it could be to late.
Did the wound start of as a spot, or a pink or red sore with a white edging.

He really needs issolating if the other fish have been having ago at him.
Also fish will pick on sick fish. He could of already been ill.

 

[Fishywish]

I only noticed the wound today so I don't know if its growing, I will update tonight as to any changes.

As far as him being upside down, he has always hung around amongst the wood upside down since I got him a year ago, it is only now he has started swimming around the tank upside down. He will turn back to normal way up and swim equally well so I am hesitant to believe this is because he's worse although cannot be certain - I'd like to believe he's slightly odd and prefers life upside down!

The chunk is completely white, no red marks or edges or pink sores at all.. its completely odd, as if a lump fell off and he's just getting on with it.

His colouration has not changed - still has juvenile colouring - and eyes are shiny and clear so no other signs anything is wrong.

 

[WILDER]

Can you issolate him.

He if always turned upside down he could have a deformed swim bladder.
Does he look bloated.
What do you feed your fish.

 

[Fishywish]

I feed them with live bloodworms every now and then and catfish pellets.. I've been treating the water with Melafix and he's still OK.. eating fine, is spending more time the right way up apart from when sleeping!

The bit missing has not changed in size or colour and still no sign of fungus. He does not look bloated at all!

Complete mystery!!

 

[raptorrex]

I feed them with live bloodworms every now and then and catfish pellets.. I've been treating the water with Melafix and he's still OK.. eating fine, is spending more time the right way up apart from when sleeping!

The bit missing has not changed in size or colour and still no sign of fungus. He does not look bloated at all!

Complete mystery!!

misery indeed. your description of its swimming and actions, are exactly like my, healthy featherfins. both mine spent most time "upside down". though they sleep (?) layed on the sand, "right way up".

what you got in the tank with it?
i would suggest you quarantine it. though i realise the problems you mention.

 

[WILDER]

Thanks for the update.
Research the fish diet needs also.