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I have ten lovely young gagatta schmidti catfish. However they have recently got whitespot and I'm wondering how to treat it. I am aware that they are a relatively cool water fish and hence I'm reluctant to increase the tank temperature. And I'm also aware that a lot of catfish don't do too well with whitespot treatments. Does anyone have any advice?

Walrus

They'll take hot water for long enough to sort out the white spot providing you go nuts with aeration. I put two with white spot in a 15" cube, took the temp. up to 82F for two weeks and that sorted them out. I had a whisper 600 (dual) airpump running airstones into the tank as well as the filtration (a fluval 2 internal filter). Feeding continued as normal once they settled in.

Jools

Walrus wrote:I have ten lovely young gagatta schmidti catfish.

It's not going to help against white spot (Ich) and perhaps it's not even interesting to you, but the name Gagata schmidti doesn't exist (anymore).
The fish is called Gagata cenia. This may help you when you want to look something up.
BTW: Jools is very enthousiastically recommending hot water. Make that lukewarm (25C) with lots of bubbles

and add a pinch of non-iodized seasalt; really helps.

about a full teaspoon for your tank. it'll stimulate the mucus and the gills, making it easier for the fish to breathe.

especially useful since Gagata's use loads of oxygen and Ick damages the mucuslayer on the skin, fouling up the fish' intake of oxygen/outtake of CO2.

Interesting indeed - Baensch have cenia and schmidti listed as different fish with different sizes.

Thanks for the advice. Was aware of the aeration requirements but was concerned for the heat issues.

Baensch have cenia and schmidti listed as different fish with different sizes.

If you note in Baensch photo index pg385.
it says next to Gagata schmidti (=G. cenia)

Indeed, noted.