albino cat fish

Question
I have a 20 gallon tank with an evenflow filter and air stone. Make 15% water changes every 2 weeks, pH is 7.1, KH is 6.0. I have had two white albino cat fish for four years, one is about 2"long the other about 1 inch. There are four other small danios in the tank. During the past three weeks the small cat fish is seen often on its back, looking dead. If I touch it it swims fine but then assumes laying on its back again. There does not appear to be any spots or streaks on the fish, nothing on the skin. This past weekend I treated the tank with commercial formalin, removing the carbon. This was done friday night and again on sunday. This morning I replaced the carbon. Fish is alive and swims very fast when touched but again falls to bottom and lays upside down. Is the some treatment for this condition.

Answer
Hi Terry,
  I don't think treating with chemicals is the way to go.  You need to go more water changes.  I recommend 25% once a week, every week to keep fish happy and healthy in the long term.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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