pictus catfish

Mommyof2 · Post by **Mommyof2** » 26 Nov 2006, 20:58

What would cause a pictus catfish to look kinda pinkish and pale? Is he sick?

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 26 Nov 2006, 21:44

Off hand it sounds like either a different species of Pimelodid or sick pictus with a hemoragic bacterial infection(not a good thing).
If it eats well and is active then the former is likely but they are rarely sold misidentified.
Probaly best to set it up in a quarantine tank and try some antibiotics but hemoragic bacterial infections are among the most difficult diseases to effectively treat and it can spread which is another good reason to isolate it.

Mommyof2 · Post by **Mommyof2** » 27 Nov 2006, 13:23

Thanks. We just noticed this the other night and yesterday he stayed in a tunnel and didn't come out, he would turn around while in the tunnel. Today he is out swimming around like he used too.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 27 Nov 2006, 13:30

It is quite usual for pictus cats to go from Active to Reclusive. They are after all predatory cats, and just like other predators, they will eat a good fill of meat, then rest for a while, feed, rest, feed, rest.

My pictus cats have so much different hidins spaces that I have to look really hard to find more than one or two at a time (I've got 5 of them).

I've never noticed mine looking pinkish - pale, sometimes they look a bit more pale than other times (particularly if they are frightened by any sudden noise/movement in or around the tank).

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Mats