Gravel For Catfish

[muffin88]

hi im new to this and need to know why my catfish, think its a Pictus, is acting up! he swims like hes trying to shake something off his back.. swimming around the tank in the open and not the bottom! do i have the wrong size gravel and it scratches him..? they are about 5mm 10 mm big and mostly rounded. my catfish is about 6 to 7 cm long. can u suggest any gravel i could get ?

oh.. the water is a bit dirty atm too if this helps... i am in the process of water changes.

thanks in advance,

billy

 

[Delta62 Thorn]

Catfish don't need terribly clean water (in their natural environment they literally live in muck, filth, and decaying plant matter) however as with all aquariums and aquarium fish a clean tank is a healthy tank! Monitor the ammonia levels because if it is high it may be causing irritation, catfish and high ammonia levels don't mix well.

On the note of gravel are the stones smaller than your catfish's mouth? If so he may have swallowed one, unless something has gone horribly wrong your catfish does have the ability to regurgitate said stone at his leisure. Be sure to keep the gravel in your tank larger than your catfish's mouth as to discourage their being mistaken as a food thing or have the gravel small enough (and smooth enough) that they may be ingested and regurgitated with ease. Although sand bottomed tanks are best seeing as there is no gravel to swallow/choke on.

Is your gravel painted? If it is unnaturally coloured the chemicals in the colouring may also be causing irritation.

DON'T PANIC! Catfish are scavengers and when they are hungry they will swim around the tank looking for food (usually around the bottom) and if they can't find something to eat they will start swimming around in the open. Remember catfish love to eat, they're gluttonous fellows -- you may simply not be feeding him enough to satisfy his gluttonous nature.

Pictus cats are quite beautiful by the way.



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