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Hey everyone...I'm new here (probably obvious), and I have a quick question about our Red Tailed Catfish. We've been feeding him feeder fish with no problem since we got him in August. Now it seems as though he has ich - although I'm not positive. I know that some of the feeder fish have ich but now I see little lighter spots on our RTC and he seems to be trying to scratch on the gravel, plants, and sides of the aquarium. I've read online many different things - varying from you can't treat with traditional treatments to you can. What I would like to know is how I should treat this. I'd like to treat him like he has ich because I don't want to lose him. He's grown two inches or so since we've had him and are completely in love with the (now) little guy. I keep MelaFix (basically commercal tea tree oil) around to treat my snail with in case they get a fungus. I don't know if that would work or if it's safe to use something with malachite green (lethal to my snails). Any and all info would be appreciated!!!

~Katie

I would raise the temperature of the water and read this.

Nothing do to with your ick but make sure you feed him something other than just feeder goldfish all of the time. Not many creatures get all the nutrients they need off of one sole food. Mix it up and he will be happier!

Thank you so much for helping. Well...it's definately gotten worse, whatever it is. Now it looks like he has a layer coming off of him not a good thing. Won't eat anything at all that we offer him, the feeder fish in there, pond pellets, freeze dried plankton, earthworm pellets...anything. PlecoCrazy do you have any other suggestions for feeding him? He's only been fed feeder fish at the pet store and since we got him, if we threw in a couple of the pest ramshorn snails do you think he would eat those? Thank you so much for your help...

~Katie

hi katie and welcome to planet catfish

most things have already been covered especially in the link silurus gave you. saying that ,how large is your fish what is the ammonia reading like, these fish are quite good at putting out huge amounts of urine it would be helpful if you could supply information as too the water quality.
ie; ph, gh, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia,
as to feeding there should be no need to feed your RTC
every day but a good varied diet should be offered,
try and stay away from pellets. feed peices of white fish like cod,white bait and try large prawns,
It is quite alright to treat your fish with a good brand of treatment, but it is always important to follow the dosage and the treatment duration instructions

Thanks for all the help guys...unfortunately he died Monday...wish I knew what happened and how it got so bad so fast. Oh well...maybe sometime we'll get another one but we can't afford it right now. Thanks again though.

~Katie

Sorry to hear you lost your fish.

Before you consider getting another, please take some time to gather some information and do some homework first.

There are many species of catfish that would be much more suitable for a home aquarium than a SA Red-tail. Please keep in mind the final adult size of these fishes (or any others you may consider) and their extremely rapid growth rate!