Aquarium enthusiasts frequently choose catfish, especially those who are searching for low-maintenance fish. These bottom-dwelling animals are perfect for novice and expert aquarists alike because of their adaptability to a wide range of water conditions.
Catfish are extremely hardy, unlike some fish that need constant attention to their surroundings. They can adjust to varying pH and temperature of water, and they frequently don’t need much care beyond feeding and grooming.
Catfish are also preferred because of their tranquil disposition. They blend in well with other species, giving your tank more diversity without posing a threat to peace. Catfish may be the ideal addition to your aquarium if you’re looking for a fish that’s low maintenance and creates a calming atmosphere.
- White spots
- Compatibility
- Semolina
- Reproduction or breeding in a common aquarium
- The difference between a male and a female
- Oodinium
- Types of Ancistrus:
- Chilodonellosis
- Diseases and recommendations
- Dropsitis
- Video on the topic
- gupiks))the most unpretentious inhabitants of the aquarium)
- THE MOST RESISTANT AQUARIUM FISH
- 15 most popular aquarium inhabitants.
- The most useful aquarium inhabitants: cleaners, orderlies, fish algae eaters. PART 2.
White spots
Ancistrus catfish occasionally experience a comparable occurrence, albeit it doesn’t happen very frequently. It is important to determine whether these are spots at all before you start dousing the aquarium in chemicals from various jars in an attempt to save your pet. The truth is that stress coloring can easily be mistaken for the so-called white spots.
Ancient ancistrus are duller than usual when under stress. Take moving a catfish from one container to another, for instance. Stressful situations that fish may encounter on a daily basis include fierce competition for food, a small tank with lots of ancistrus fish, or an aquarium with a lot of fish. Additionally, there are situations when the body may lose color in patches rather than all over.
In terms of the illness, loricariids frequently experience the development of white spots on their bodies. This issue is the result of an infection. These kinds of things most likely enter the aquarium along with fish that you recently purchased from a pet store.
It’s important to keep in mind that, after purchasing a new fish, you should keep it in quarantine for 10 to 14 days before introducing it into a shared aquarium. This way, you can keep an eye on it and, should any issues arise, protect the other fish in the aquarium—you might even be able to save their lives.
Should you discover it on your catfish’s body, it is imperative that you quarantine and isolate the patient immediately from any other fish. An aquarium used for quarantine should have a capacity of roughly 20 liters.
Antipar is the medication used to treat this condition. It is important to remember not to furnish an aquarium used for quarantine. The fish will return to its home after treatment, and this aquarium will also require treatment and disinfection. When the aquarium is empty, this is simpler to accomplish.
Since this disease spreads quickly among catfish, as experience has shown, it is imperative to remove the affected fish from the shared aquarium as soon as possible. Speak with a specialist to get the prescription for the required medication if you are unsure of the precise cause of the infection or the name of the illness. Trying to treat every fish illness with every medication you’ve ever heard of will hasten your pet’s journey to another planet.
Compatibility
All peaceful fish get along with speckled catfish. A tiny flock residing in the aquarium is ideal. Tetras, neons, dwarf cichlids, barbs, danios, and other corydora species—like the panda catfish—will make excellent neighbors.
Even though small catfish have a strong shell, you do not need to add large predators to the aquarium because they can swallow small catfish. Rejecting fish that thrive in heat and are kept in salt water is preferable.
Semolina
Another extremely common disease affecting freshwater aquarium fish, specifically ancistrus, is known as semolina. The fact that sick fish develop white patches on their bodies that resemble warts is how this disease got its name. Their share is precisely the same as semolina’s. This illness is known as ichthyophthirius in science.
Every aquarium will have at least one Ichthyophthirius. It affects everyone equally. If you purchase fish at a pet store, don’t believe the sellers when they tell you that every fish is quarantined and disinfected because this disease can only enter an aquarium from the outside.
The ciliate "ichthyophthirius" is the disease’s causal agent. One of the most prevalent parasites in fish is this one. The white spots on the fish are pockets of the epithelium of the carrier that are home to ciliate cells, also known as trophonts or trophozoites.
Following six to seven days of parasitization on the fish, the mature trophozoite fragments, along with their carrier, descend to the bottom and release a cyst. Its emergency division-performing cell will give rise to 600–1000 daughter cells within a day. The fresh fish is then infected by the new cells. A development cycle takes seven to ten days to complete.
Ichthyophthirius can be chemically eradicated with the aid of:
- formaldehyde;
- malachite green;
- copper sulfate;
- potassium permanganate.
When used in a typical aquarium, these medications can harm plants and cause invertebrates, like snails, to die.
To eradicate any remaining infection floating in the water column, the treatment must be continued for a few days after the white dots on the fish bodies vanish. This typically lasts for a week or so. Ten days of the treatment are spent at 27 degrees Celsius, and the final six days are spent at 29 degrees.
Malachite green handling requires caution. This medication is harmful and contributes to the development of cancerous tumors. It is harmful to newborns and has the potential to cause mutations. Working with this material requires the use of gloves and a mask. It is not recommended for pregnant women to use this medication.
Reproduction or breeding in a common aquarium
The majority of Ancistrus species have the ability to spawn approximately once in a lifetime, once every six years. Consequently, the best way to reproduce them is to move fish that are ready for spawning into a different aquarium, where they can establish ideal conditions for producing the greatest number of offspring.
These catfish are easy to breed in a shared aquarium, though there will inevitably be some loss of eggs and fry because they will be consumed by other occupants of the shared home. However, the formidable "armored" male will thwart this as he becomes extremely aggressive during the spawning period. After all, the male, not the female, is responsible for providing care for the progeny and guarding the fertilized eggs and fry. To prevent her from eating her own eggs, the female should be kept in a different container after she has finished laying them.
The main requirement for catfish breeding in a typical aquarium is water aeration.
Typically, ancistrus spawns in the shadows. The male is in charge of setting up the nest and selecting the aquarium’s most private and secure location for egg laying. He meticulously cleans it before spawning and then "invites" the nearby female. The male fertilizes the eggs that the female lays after she climbs into the nest.
Within four to seven days, catfish eggs mature and the fry emerge. The traits unique to a given species of fish determine the size, color, and quantity of eggs.
The difference between a male and a female
Prior to attaining sexual maturity, which occurs between 12 and 15 months, sex determination can be challenging.
In the majority of catfish species, the mature female is invariably smaller than the adult male, with more elegantly elongated shapes and longer, sharper fins.
Unlike females, males have distinctive whiskers on their upper jaw that can grow up to two centimeters in length.
Oodinium
This illness is incredibly sneaky and subtle. It may remain in an aquarium for a number of years without exhibiting any symptoms to the aquarist. Rarely do adult catfish and other aquarium fish pass away from this illness.
The fish are merely carriers of this disease if the conditions are favorable. Fish with the infection may scratch themselves on stones, turn pale unexpectedly, or tremble violently.
Fry mostly suffer, or fish under stress or with weakened immune systems. When the illness starts to worsen, a fish will appear clamped and have less movement. Such fishes have fins that are fused together until eventually they split. Before long, there won’t be any interradial tissue—just broken rays.
The fish’s skin may come off in chunks in some areas. The fish will start to die in large numbers during this phase. Clusters of parasites will cover the sick fish’s entire body. The fish’s second name, velvety or velvet disease, comes from the fact that its body will have a velvety appearance.
The best and most efficient way to treat oodiniasis in a general aquarium is to use the antibiotic bicillin-5. Recall that this kind of care will kill aquarium plants. The ideal water temperature for treatment is going to be between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius.
To prevent the medication from becoming less effective, it is recommended to shade the aquarium. It is best not to feed the fish prior to beginning treatment during this time, and there should be a significant amount of water aeration.
One bottle of bicillin for every 100 liters of water is the ideal dosage of the medication. Recall that it is 100 liters of water, not one hundred liters per aquarium. After all, soil and decorations take up 10–12% of the volume of a 100-liter aquarium, and the aquarium is not completely filled.
The fish are almost entirely free of the parasite after 14–18 hours. Should gold dust still be visible on the fish the following day, you will need to redo the process with 30% fresh water. After two days and again after seven days, the treatment must be administered again.
Because they require very little upkeep, catfish are an excellent choice for both novice and seasoned aquarium owners. They are among the simplest fish to maintain happy and healthy in any aquarium because they can survive in a range of water conditions, eat leftover food and algae to keep tanks clean, and need very little special attention.
Types of Ancistrus:
- Albino. Individuals of this species have a yellow body and beautiful red eyes. Their health is weak. The fish need careful care and stable water parameters.
- Yellow catfish grows up to 8 cm, looks like an albino, only its eyes are not red, but black.
- Red (super red) Ancistrus loves warm water (27-30 degrees). The body length of an adult is up to 15 cm.
- Starry. The body of the fish is almost black, covered with many white dots. Loves soft and warm water.
- Dark ancistrus. Loves the flow. Under comfortable conditions, it lives for about 7 years.
Starry catfish in the picture
Chilodonellosis
Another illness that affects every other inhabitant of a freshwater aquarium in addition to ancistrus. The fish exhibits a marked decrease in appetite when the disease first starts to progress. The fish’s color becomes dull and its movement drastically diminishes.
A compressed tail fin that isn’t disheveled is a telltale sign of the illness.The sides and back of the fish frequently have whitish-bluish patches visible. They appear a little disoriented. All of this points to the start of chilodonellosis development. Therapy needs to begin right away. Should the illness be ignored in its more advanced stage, the fish will start to perish.
This illness typically enters the aquarium along with live food. Start examining the fish carefully if you see that the aquarium’s water has become somewhat hazy after the temperature drops.
The truth is that this illness does not tolerate temperatures below 26 degrees. However, chilodonella start to grow quickly as soon as the water temperature drops to at least 23–21 degrees Celsius. In just two to three days, the aquarium will be overrun with this disgusting organism. It will also be too late even if you manage to get the temperature up to 32 degrees.
Currently, we deal primarily with tropical chilodonella, whereas previously we encountered domestic chilodonella, against which the antiquated strategy of fighting with temperature was effective. They have no fear of this kind of thermal torture.
In a typical aquarium, mild cases of chilodonellosis are treated by introducing treatments like these into the water:
- Sera Omnisan;
- Sera Costapur;
- JBL Punktol;
- Sera Mykopur.
Levomycetin from a human pharmacy should be used as a treatment in particularly severe cases. Tablets containing 0.5 grams or 0.25 grams of levomycetin are available. Three grams of the preparation must dissolve in one hundred liters of water in order to be used for treatment. A two- to three-day break must be taken between each addition of the preparation. Fresh water must be added to the aquarium to replace one-third of the existing water before adding any more preparation.
If the aquarium’s water is brought up to 28 degrees and 3–4 tablespoons of table salt are added, the treatment process can be expedited. Aquarium plants may be destroyed by such treatment.
Diseases and recommendations
The fish develops several white, wart-like patches all over it before developing ulcers. They can also eat sick, dead fish at the bottom and contract other infections, particularly tuberculosis.
Practical advice:
- sick fish should be immediately isolated;
- more than three catfish should be placed in an aquarium: with a smaller number, they do not feel very comfortable;
- during spawning, 2-3 males with one female are moved to another vessel of 5-10 liters, otherwise, as a result of long maturation, the eggs can be eaten by other fish.
If you adhere to basic guidelines, which are quite doable even for inexperienced aquarists, catfish will leave a great impression.
Dropsitis
Among ancistrus, this disease is one of the hardest. I had to look around on the forums to piece together the picture because there isn’t a lot of information available online about this subject.
This illness in ancistrus resembles a large bloated abdomen. Many owners first believe that the ancistrus overate, causing the belly to swell. It’s nothing to worry about; it will go away on its own. And the ancistrus passed away a few days later. Then queries come up.
The fish ceases to excrete, and the ancistrus with a swollen belly has a swollen anus.
This issue may arise from a number of sources:
- drug poisoning;
- ammonia poisoning;
- NO2 poisoning;
- kidney damage;
- fluid imbalance;
- live food poisoning;
- lack of cellulose in the diet.
Although the possibilities being considered are plausible, the cause of the dropsy cannot be determined with certainty. According to ancistrus breeders, there’s a very high chance that the fry will experience a similar issue and, most of the time, die if the young fish in the rearing aquarium grow without any problems.
Ancistrus with a similarly swollen belly should be taken out of the main aquarium and treated with either Baktopur (ciprofloxacin 50 ml/l) or levomycetin 75 ml/l plus 1.5–2 mg/l of salt.
Retain the 27 degree temperature. When the catfish’s belly begins to shrink and it is able to urinate, the benefits of the treatment will become evident. It is then worthwhile to continue giving it medication for an additional two to three days.
The unpleasant thing about this disease is that if you notice the fish’s issue too late, the treatment won’t work and the fish will still perish. Most of the time, as many forum users have noted, there’s no reason to drag the catfish back from the other world. The fish will not be cured in eighty percent of the cases. However, in response, there are numerous effective initiatives to save catfish from dropsy on the same forums.
Characteristic | Description |
Hardiness | Catfish are known for their resilience and adaptability to various water conditions, making them suitable for beginners. |
Low Maintenance | They require minimal care compared to other fish, needing less frequent water changes and feeding. |
Diet | Catfish are not picky eaters; they will consume a variety of foods, including pellets, flakes, and live food. |
Compatibility | They generally get along well with other fish species and can thrive in community tanks. |
Size | Many catfish species remain small to medium-sized, making them ideal for various tank sizes. |
Among the most versatile and low-maintenance fish you can keep in an aquarium are catfish, without a doubt. They are an excellent option for both novice and seasoned aquarists due to their resilience and laid-back disposition. They blend in perfectly with different tank configurations and require very little maintenance.
These fish come in a variety of species, each with its own distinct charm, and they are also hardy. There’s probably a catfish out there that’s ideal for your aquarium, whether you want one that adds a touch of exotica or one that does well in a communal tank.
Selecting catfish for your aquarium is a convenient yet captivating choice. Because of their adaptability to various settings, you can enjoy a lively and healthy aquarium without having to worry about their welfare all the time.