PlanetCatfish.com

Hello everyone. I currently have 4 med. sized banjo cats in a 20g aquarium. I bought these guys in hopes of breeding them in the future and just because i find them so interesting. For those who have banjos,you know that these guys basically sleep all day and somewhat move half and hour later after you turn the lights off. Anyway ive realized they can become very easily bloated without me even feeding much and it takes a couple days for them to pass the food it seems. Im pretty sure that they are so bloated due to their lack of activity but this is just a guess. My question is to the banjo keepers,im sure this has happened to you guys as well so what did you guys do to fix the problem?Atm im feeding hikari sinking pellets.Oh by the way, i know feeding less sound like the trick but believe me im feeding as least as possible!

Bloating won't be caused by inactivity. It is a direct result of either of 2 things:- either an infection (which i din't think is the case here).

Or the foodstuff...Have you tried feeding chopped earthworms, frozen bloodworm, tetra delica or non-dry foodstuffs?

No i havnt tried any of that stuff yet. So your saying its most likely due to the foodstuff?like it expanding in its stomach?please explain.

Loco wrote:No i havnt tried any of that stuff yet. So your saying its most likely due to the foodstuff?like it expanding in its stomach?please explain.

Yes, food stuff expanding in the stomach is one explanation. These fish CAN be very greedy, so they stuff themselves full - if it's a food that then swells quite a bit when in water, it will bloat the stomach.

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Mats

oh ok i see. I really appreciate it guy. This website is very helpful to me thnks again... im gonna try earthworms..is it fine to just use canadian night crawlers from the fishing store??

Loco wrote:is it fine to just use canadian night crawlers from the fishing store??

Yes, as long as you cut it up so that it's "bitesize" to the fish. And start with a tiny amount. From what I find, Nightcrawlers can be almost half an inch in diameter and ten inches long.

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Mats

Better to use the red wrigglers or the little worms that people put in compost bins. Nightcrawlers are big and messy.

2wheelsx2 wrote:Better to use the red wrigglers or the little worms that people put in compost bins. Nightcrawlers are big and messy.

I would agree with that.

By the way, it would be interesting to see what level of "bloating" there is. I just saw one of my banjo cats with a fair "belly". They are quite capable of stuffing themselves. I took some photos with the mobile phone, but I don't seem to be able to find the wire to connecct the phone. I will attempt to blue-tooth it over and upload, but later...

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Mats

Well the "level" of bloating is pretty high lol. The fish almost looks as if it were almost a month pregnant! then a couple days later...its gone. Im trying the earthworms tonight thanks guys until i get a hold of some smaller worms.

Loco wrote:The fish almost looks as if it were almost a month pregnant! then a couple days later...its gone.

I'd actually say that's "normal". Perhaps reduce the feeding a bit so that it's not getting quite so much, but they are gluttons.

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Mats