Help! Upside down Catfish showing bizarre symptoms

[Upsidedowner]

Hi, I'm new to catfish and recently purchased three upside down cats. I've had them for a month or two and one of the females just started showing wierd symptoms.
She had what appeared to be a scrape on her head and from this point has since developed what looks like
a cylindrical red "horn." I have isolated her into a treatment tank where
she has freshwater fish salt and Aquarisol added to the water. She does not seem
to be in any discomfort. What on in the world is on her head?

[Birger]

What on in the world is on her head?

It would be really hard to say, without a picture it would be just a guess
These will squabble among themselves and have a tendancy to hide along heaters where they may burn...you do not say what other fish(if any) are also in the tank with them.

Birger

[Upsidedowner]

She's in with two other upside down cats and a male betta. There is a tank heater that they like to hang around by, so that could be it. I'm not quite sure how to describe this thing. It is a red nodule and has recently developed white puffy tissue around the base. I am going to try and post a pic today. Thanks

[andywoolloo]

I think you need a heater guard, I learned that on here, And I had to make one.

And if she got an injury from another cat and you see white fuzzy stuff might be getting infected. Maybe some melafix!

[Upsidedowner]

I've attatched a pic. If you can't see it go to

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk10 ... e003-1.jpg

Thanks for the help!

[andywoolloo]

if I had to guess I would guess heater burn. Poor peanut.

[Birger]

To me it looks like it could be infecting the Pineal Gland, maybe it has been targeted by the Betta or burned or some kind of infection due to some other cause...for a better explanation than I could give of Pineal Gland go to http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ?f=8&t=420


This is a picture showing theThird Eye on a Megalodoras uranoscopus...it is a good example, syno's have this as well



Birger

[andywoolloo]

oh my gosh I was looking somewhere else at what is actually one of her spots.

[Upsidedowner]

Thanks guys. I didn't know about the pineal gland, although it makes sense that they would have something like that. It is looking better today, a little less swollen and definately not worse. She seems to be feeling okay as she is still swimming around and eats granules when offered. I am going to take her to pet store where I got her and see if they have any ideas.

[Birger]

It is looking better today,

They recover very well from some nasty stuff...if you pack it up and take it somewhere that is just extra unneeded stress...what it needs is peaceful recovery, good food and clean water and a bit of the above mentioned melafix...glad to hear it is looking better

Birger

[Upsidedowner]

It is looking better today,

They recover very well from some nasty stuff...if you pack it up and take it somewhere that is just extra unneeded stress...what it needs is peaceful recovery, good food and clean water and a bit of the above mentioned melafix...glad to hear it is looking better

Birger

I just got back from the petstore a little while ago and saw your post. You will be pleased to know that what you advised was what I actually ended up doing. I'm new to cats but I've kept fish before so stress was a concern and I decided not to take her after all. After perusing the aisle of antibiotics I also eventually decided on Melafix as it sounded the most promising and the mildest on the fish. Kind of funny coincidence. Just out of curiousity since you mentioned food, what do you feed your synos? I've been giving them sinking shrimp pellets and tropical sinking granules. They don't seem thrilled with them but they do eat them. I also wanted to say Thanks for the advice, it's been really helpful!

[Birger]

what do you feed your synos?

My base diet is NLS pellets...1mm, this is the only food that once they got used to it they meet me at the glass waiting for it, usually nigriventris are a little shy to get going when food is put in.

They can be fed all kinds of foods,all your regular frozen foods,bloodworms are a favourite, it is also interesting to watch them surface feed as they of course will feed in the inverted position so foods that will float such as dried mosquito larvae work well for this.

Birger

[Upsidedowner]

Thanks. I've been treating with the Melafix since Monday, but it doesn't seem to be helping. She's not getting worse exactly, she's not getting better either. Just staying steady. Could this be hole in the head? I've read that it is sometimes a swelling rather than an ulcer.

[Birger]

It is really hard to say what it is...is there a chance somehow to get a better picture of the head

Birger

[Upsidedowner]

Hey thought I'd post an update. The infection had sloughed off, but resurfaced right next to the original spot. The bump went away and was replace by white tissue surrounding the spot. She then stopped eating and started showing swimbladder issues. She died a couple of days ago. I still have no idea what happened. Thankfully though the other two synos have shown no sign of developing the condition whatever it was. Thanks again for all your help

[Richard B]

Sorry to hear that but good the others seem ok -there almost sounds like there was more than a single problem with the original fish

[Upsidedowner]

Yes. It was very weird whatever it was. Now I'm down to only two of them. They are in a ten-gallon by themselves (the betta was recently relocated to a different tank) I was toying with the idea of getting two or three more so they could school together but after this episode I'm not sure I will. Kind of left a bad taste in my mouth if you know what I mean.

[Richard B]

I DO know what you mean but i would monitor for a month or so & if all is well add the new ones as they'll be happier in a bigger group - course it's all down to you....