Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Fish > feeler rot / air gulping

feeler rot / air gulping

23 11:47:24

Question
Ramona
Ramona  
QUESTION: Hi, I submitted this same question to someone else on the site and he called me a moron and said he didn't wish to help me any further.... perhaps you could be slightly more helpful???
The only other thing I could add is that all other fish in the tank are doing well. Also, the one downward feeler is mostly gone now, there is about an 1/8th inch nub left. (You should be able to see it in the photo)

What follows below is what I originally submitted...Thank you.


My cat fish is approx. 10-11 yrs old, 10 inches long.  It appears to have  a growth on the front of her mouth which is the newest symptom in her current condition.  One of her large feelers will not move forward anymore and appears to have very slow healing abrasion.  In addition, the small downward feeler, normally about 4inches long has slowly rotted away.... it looks as if the same thing is starting to occur on the opposite feeler.  The last symptom to mention is that she now spends ALMOST ALL of her time vertical in the tank, at the top, bobbing up and sticking the front of her face out of the water, occasionally making a gulping sound.
Remedies tried
1. water change to make sure plenty of oxygenation
2. 5 day course of ammoxicillian
3. in progress...  3 days of tetracycline (gram negative)

55 gallon tank, undergravel filtration, magnum 350 filtration  (all charcoal removed while antibiotics being used)  assorted air stones running
The antibiotics don't seem to have an appreciable effect.  My question is:
What else can I do for her?  her name is Ramona

I am attaching one photo, however, I took many more in case it will help.  I would gladly send you all you can handle if it could help diagnose and treat her.
Thank you for your help.
Christy

ANSWER: Hello,
Ok first your not a moron. You obviousley care deeply for your fish.
You have had your fish for a long time, and have done well to keep it this long.

Have you recently added any new fish and have you see any of the fish picking on your cat-fish?


You could try and buy some fin rot treatment and see if that helps, but as fish get older they will loose fins e.t.c and they may burn away, so that could be an age related problem.

The gulping for air is also an age related problem, my elderly fish do gulp for air so i set up another small tank, for them, it usually prolongs there life, and they are more comfortable rather than in with young hyper fish that drive them mad lol.

It does sound as if your fish may die soon, especially as it is old.

As i said you can try the fin rot treatment and do 30-40% water change every week.

Im sorry about your fish, but well done for keeping it happy and healthy, you have done a good job.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

Ramona
Ramona  
QUESTION: Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
No, I have not added any fish.  There are 5 fish in the tank, all large.  Two tin foils, one plecostomus, the last one I can't remember the type.  

Did you use the small tank for oxygenation reasons or just to keep the elderly away from the young hyper fish?  
I ask because I don't have young fish, they are all large and Ramona is too large for me to relocate her. (little fish have all been eaten, on every occasion that I've tried to introduce them.)

What is the gulping for air mean, how does it relate to her age?   Should I put in more air stones, would that help her?

I will try the water change and fin rot medication..... is there another type of medication I should use to help with the sore on her mouth and the one that is preventing the movement of her large feeler?

I appreciate your time and effort in answering my questions, thank you for your support.  I will attach an additional photo to complete the scenario.  Thanks again,  

Answer
Hello,
I used the tank for the elderly but mainly for oxygenating reasons.

Gulping is because with age its harder for there gills to extract oxygen so they do it this way....another air stone may help her yes, also try cleaning the filter or changing the sponges in it.

fin rot medication or mouth fungas meds should help her mouth.