New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat

roushrcing26 · 03-14-2011, 11:55 AM

Hi everybody i just bought a spotted bullhead catfish. I have had him for two days now in a 20 gallon with cichlids and rainbow sharks. his whiskers on his nose are getting shorter and he will not swim around or eat anything what do you think this could be? it has a 30 gallon filter and a bubble wall with plenty of air. also plenty of live plants please help?! go to youtube and type in cichlids bullhead catfish angelfish and puffers the first video should be my tank its 3 min 9 seconds Thank you!

M1ster Stanl3y · 03-14-2011, 12:45 PM

id hafta say he is getting picked on, did you drip acclimate him? are you planning on moving him to a bigger tank?

M1ster Stanl3y · 03-14-2011, 12:53 PM

ok after watching your video.

YouTube - Freshwater tanks Cichlids, Bullhead Catfish, RB Shark, Puffer, And Angelfish

i'm not a fish specialist or anything but i noticed a few things.

For a 20g thats a lot of fish. How often do you do a water change?

Do you test for amoninia, nitrite, nitrate? if so whats their levels?

The catfish will be more active at night w/ lights off then the day.

Your suckerfish is a Pleco, dunno what kind but if its a common pleco it can get over 18".

What are you trying to feed your catfish?

Test your water, see what your numbers are and start there. The catfish full grown will weight about 2lbs so its not gonna be huge but it will grow large.

roushrcing26 · 03-14-2011, 01:14 PM

I am going to get test strips as soon as I have the extra money.

Yes I plan on getting bigger within a year.

I do water changes daily or every other day tank is at 80 degrees

I have tried to feed him ghost shrimp, sinking shrimp pelets and flake food.

Maybe he's eating at night?

M1ster Stanl3y · 03-14-2011, 01:20 PM

ditch the test strips spend the $30 on a API master liquid test kit. More precise.
water changes are gonna be important for your tank.
He might be eating at night but i would watch for the cichlids maybe harassing him. Watch craigslist if he is getting harassed you may be able to find a cheap 20g for him alone. I had one in my local craiglist for $5 but it was gone w/in hours of posting.

WhiteGloveAquatics · 03-14-2011, 02:17 PM

Too many fish, inadequate water flow, bad water conditions. I also will warn you, once/IF it grows, you can kiss those other fish goodbye.
That size bullhead needs a 40B to ITSELF to grow correctly. run a canister filter and do 50% pwc's every other day, and add a powerhead to create a current. That tank is all wrong for a native fish.

roushrcing26 · 03-14-2011, 03:02 PM

A bubble wall isn't enough air flow? Should I get a splitter and plug in the castle into the air again? Should I. Take some cichlids back? What beside a powerhead would u recomend to make this tank sufficent for him?

roushrcing26 · 03-14-2011, 03:03 PM

The water is crysta? Clear now It was dirty bc I had just done a water change

WhiteGloveAquatics · 03-14-2011, 03:37 PM

all a PWC does is dillute. Ive lost $300 dollar fish in crystal clear conditions before, its what you cant see that will get em.

a bubble wand is no flow at all, bullheads are found near moving water, either in rivers, creeks or at the mouths of creeks on lakes. Their bodies are designed for moving bodies of water.

you need a bigger tank, bigger filter and a powerhead down low or even the filter return mounted low in the tank, creeks and rivers currents are on the bottom not top. all a bubble wand does is pressurize the air you are breathing anyways and the oxygen content is minimal.

susankat · 03-14-2011, 08:07 PM

The tank is also full of fish from different lakes on the cichlids. Hate to say it but the tank even if it was big enough will head for disaster because you will end up with compatability problems with the fish that the catfish don't eat.

M1ster Stanl3y · 03-14-2011, 08:13 PM

As for the cichlids with the stores selling the"assorted" its hard for the average person to know the lake types . Def need a tank for just the catfish tho. He will thank you

susankat · 03-14-2011, 08:21 PM

Well that may be true, but he does have a tang in there that I have never seen at petsmarts or petco. Lfs will carry them and can get expensive. So I doubt that came out of a tank of assorted cichlids.

roushrcing26 · 03-15-2011, 12:31 AM

I took him back to the store today and got a smaller channel cat and a few more real plants no more fake ones. Also i took the blue striped cichlid back all the other cichlids get along fine for now lol. what kind of fish random fish that you never see would be good with my tank?

James0816 · 03-15-2011, 07:22 AM

Channel Cat? Can you confirm this? You may have just made things worse. Channels are monsters.

Also, what is the temp in the tank? These types of cats reqire cooler temps that chiclids.

And...tank is also too "busy" for these types of cats as well.

roushrcing26 · 03-15-2011, 09:01 AM

Yes i know its a channel I go fishing for them all the time. hes only like two inches long ill have a bigger tank by the time he outgrows this one the tank is at 78 degrees. I think it should be ok

James0816 · 03-15-2011, 09:06 AM

ooooooooooook.

Just please be advised on your current tank (and this isn't a dig on you): Too Small - Too Busy - Too Hot

WhiteGloveAquatics · 03-15-2011, 09:18 AM

yeah by that time all your other fish will be gone, channel catfish are predators not scavengers.

roushrcing26 · 03-15-2011, 10:13 AM

no its cool i need the help what do yall suggest i do i really like the idea of the catfish im an avid fisherman. should i get rid of the cichlids or keep maybe one or two? im thinking maybe switching to a native tank

roushrcing26 · 03-15-2011, 10:13 AM

oh and what temp would be good for the catfish is there a medium for both of them?

WhiteGloveAquatics · 03-15-2011, 03:28 PM

In the tanks at my old work we used to keep the channel cats at 58 degrees and they were most active at these temps.

If you have a channel cat in there, get rid of everything else. Is it a true channel cat? Ive caught em at the smallest 5" long and they look like a dwarf channel cat.

Im not trying to knock you at all but the needs of a north american native is ALOT different then every other fish in that tank. I wont keep natives in anything less then 500 gallons as they need the room to swim and grow. I do miss my 9k gallon tanks at my old work though.

03-14-2011, 11:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat Hi everybody i just bought a spotted bullhead catfish. I have had him for two days now in a 20 gallon with cichlids and rainbow sharks. his whiskers on his nose are getting shorter and he will not swim around or eat anything what do you think this could be? it has a 30 gallon filter and a bubble wall with plenty of air. also plenty of live plants please help?! go to youtube and type in cichlids bullhead catfish angelfish and puffers the first video should be my tank its 3 min 9 seconds Thank you!

03-14-2011, 12:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
M1ster Stanl3y M1ster Stanl3y's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Name: Adam Stanley Location: Waco, Tx My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 63 Times Said "Thanks" 33 Times Was Thanked 60 Times in 51 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat id hafta say he is getting picked on, did you drip acclimate him? are you planning on moving him to a bigger tank?

03-14-2011, 01:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat I am going to get test strips as soon as I have the extra money. Yes I plan on getting bigger within a year. I do water changes daily or every other day tank is at 80 degrees I have tried to feed him ghost shrimp, sinking shrimp pelets and flake food. Maybe he's eating at night?

03-14-2011, 01:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
M1ster Stanl3y M1ster Stanl3y's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Name: Adam Stanley Location: Waco, Tx My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 63 Times Said "Thanks" 33 Times Was Thanked 60 Times in 51 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat ditch the test strips spend the $30 on a API master liquid test kit. More precise. water changes are gonna be important for your tank. He might be eating at night but i would watch for the cichlids maybe harassing him. Watch craigslist if he is getting harassed you may be able to find a cheap 20g for him alone. I had one in my local craiglist for $5 but it was gone w/in hours of posting.

03-14-2011, 02:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,112 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 413 Times in 385 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat Too many fish, inadequate water flow, bad water conditions. I also will warn you, once/IF it grows, you can kiss those other fish goodbye. That size bullhead needs a 40B to ITSELF to grow correctly. run a canister filter and do 50% pwc's every other day, and add a powerhead to create a current. That tank is all wrong for a native fish.

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03-14-2011, 03:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat A bubble wall isn't enough air flow? Should I get a splitter and plug in the castle into the air again? Should I. Take some cichlids back? What beside a powerhead would u recomend to make this tank sufficent for him?

03-14-2011, 03:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat The water is crysta? Clear now It was dirty bc I had just done a water change

03-14-2011, 03:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,112 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 413 Times in 385 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat all a PWC does is dillute. Ive lost $300 dollar fish in crystal clear conditions before, its what you cant see that will get em. a bubble wand is no flow at all, bullheads are found near moving water, either in rivers, creeks or at the mouths of creeks on lakes. Their bodies are designed for moving bodies of water. you need a bigger tank, bigger filter and a powerhead down low or even the filter return mounted low in the tank, creeks and rivers currents are on the bottom not top. all a bubble wand does is pressurize the air you are breathing anyways and the oxygen content is minimal.

03-14-2011, 08:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat The tank is also full of fish from different lakes on the cichlids. Hate to say it but the tank even if it was big enough will head for disaster because you will end up with compatability problems with the fish that the catfish don't eat. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

03-14-2011, 08:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
M1ster Stanl3y M1ster Stanl3y's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Name: Adam Stanley Location: Waco, Tx My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 63 Times Said "Thanks" 33 Times Was Thanked 60 Times in 51 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat As for the cichlids with the stores selling the"assorted" its hard for the average person to know the lake types . Def need a tank for just the catfish tho. He will thank you

03-14-2011, 08:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
susankat Pleco n bn breeder n BOSS susankat's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,420 Name: Susan Location: Tulsa, Ok Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 4,151 Times Said "Thanks" 1,618 Times Was Thanked 1,809 Times in 1,549 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat Well that may be true, but he does have a tang in there that I have never seen at petsmarts or petco. Lfs will carry them and can get expensive. So I doubt that came out of a tank of assorted cichlids. __________________ SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!! 220 Tank build http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

03-15-2011, 12:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat I took him back to the store today and got a smaller channel cat and a few more real plants no more fake ones. Also i took the blue striped cichlid back all the other cichlids get along fine for now lol. what kind of fish random fish that you never see would be good with my tank?

03-15-2011, 07:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat Channel Cat? Can you confirm this? You may have just made things worse. Channels are monsters. Also, what is the temp in the tank? These types of cats reqire cooler temps that chiclids. And...tank is also too "busy" for these types of cats as well.

03-15-2011, 09:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat Yes i know its a channel I go fishing for them all the time. hes only like two inches long ill have a bigger tank by the time he outgrows this one the tank is at 78 degrees. I think it should be ok

03-15-2011, 09:06 AM	#16 (permalink)
James0816 James0816's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,455 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 0 Times Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 526 Times in 454 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat ooooooooooook. Just please be advised on your current tank (and this isn't a dig on you): Too Small - Too Busy - Too Hot

03-15-2011, 09:18 AM	#17 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,112 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 413 Times in 385 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat yeah by that time all your other fish will be gone, channel catfish are predators not scavengers.

03-15-2011, 10:13 AM	#18 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat no its cool i need the help what do yall suggest i do i really like the idea of the catfish im an avid fisherman. should i get rid of the cichlids or keep maybe one or two? im thinking maybe switching to a native tank

03-15-2011, 10:13 AM	#19 (permalink)
roushrcing26 Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 21 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat oh and what temp would be good for the catfish is there a medium for both of them?

03-15-2011, 03:28 PM	#20 (permalink)
WhiteGloveAquatics WhiteGloveAquatics's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,112 Name: WhiteDevil Location: NW suburbs of chicago Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 145 Times Said "Thanks" 48 Times Was Thanked 413 Times in 385 Posts	Re: New Bullhead catfish will not swim around or eat In the tanks at my old work we used to keep the channel cats at 58 degrees and they were most active at these temps. If you have a channel cat in there, get rid of everything else. Is it a true channel cat? Ive caught em at the smallest 5" long and they look like a dwarf channel cat. Im not trying to knock you at all but the needs of a north american native is ALOT different then every other fish in that tank. I wont keep natives in anything less then 500 gallons as they need the room to swim and grow. I do miss my 9k gallon tanks at my old work though.

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