synodontis decorus with cloudy eye

[glyde]

Ive recently recieved a couple of decorus cats, they are about 12cm each one smaller than the other.
One of them is fine (the bigger one) and the other is a bit beaten up and has cloudy eye,
It seems to be eating but very skittish, ive added some salt and half dosage of melafix to help him heal.
Is there any other things i should do to try to save him or is he gonna be a goner?

Please help, any ideas or comments welcome.

Thanks

[Birger]

Is there any other things i should do to try to save him or is he gonna be a goner?

Good food, clean water is very important and make sure the little guy does not have to compete to much for his food or shelter
Most syno's can be surprisingly resilient, cloudy eyes is something synodontis seem to be susceptible to if kept in bad conditions, it can take a while for the cloudy eye to go away, and if it is real bad it may never go away but I have seen other syno's pull through from some real nasty stuff. I would not use to many meds...the melafix is good but that is about it, I am not real big on salt but lets not get into that.

Birger

[glyde]

Yeah i too am a bit weary of salt i put less than half the amount in, so just a little as it may help or will it?
You are right about it not being treated very well, its scratches along its sides look like its almost discoloration but im sure the person i got them from had a whole lot in a small tank and this ones been beaten up on a bit as its a bit smaller.
Im very particular on my water quality, but i do keep other synos in the tank also.

[Birger]

what are the other syno's ?
Is there a possibility to quarantine even just for a week or two?

Birger

[glyde]

got a few multipunctatus, njassae, ocellifer and a eupterus in a 280 gal tank.
The only one that really picks on him is the other decorus
I should be able to separate him in a couple of weeks when my other tank is available.
I wanted to seperate it right at the start so i could give it some TLC.
Ive got a 25cm separation cage do you think it would be ok putting him in there just to make sure he doesnt get beaten up on and getting proper dosage of food?

[Birger]

I would do it just to help it get back into better shape...put something in it can get comfortable in, a nice little cave or two...also you would be able to target the fish with more feedings if you feel it is necessary.

Birger

[glyde]

Thanks Birger for all your help, ill do that tonight.
Hope he ends up ok.

[andywoolloo]

280 gal tank...... drool

best wishes to your decorus

[Richard B]

All good advice from Birger - i can only agree that synos are really tough compared to a lot of other fish we keep & a 12cm specimen can put up with a lot!

I think you'll be fine, but keep us posted.