odd catfish

[fishman0]

my catfish in staying most of the time in one of the coners of my 40g hex and moving his tail back and forth. I have two other catfish ones a female is this diease or wierd mating behavior?

 

[sinasster]

Your not saying much, all of my fish move their tail back and forth

And you didnt mention what kind of cat fish either, he may have just staked out his territory and comes out to eat at night.

 

[NTidd]

Chances are it's a sort of nocturnal cat and is really not active and exploring during the day, I have 3 lace cats that are 4 - 6 inches, and they all pack themselves into the bottoms of stumps and things during the day. I also have 2 sun cats that I rarely ever see even if I want too, I wasn't sure if I even had them anymore and one day I saw one under a stump and it had doubled his size and was doing well! Do need more info on the fish tho.

 

[fishman0]

it's a peppered cory

 

[toodles]

Sounds like strange behavior for a cory. These little guys are active all day long with only occasional stops for a nap. How does the fish look? Are the fins open or clamped close to the body? Do they have tears in them? Are the fishes barbels damaged or bleeding? Is the fish breathing normally? Have you tested your water for ammonia/nitrite/nitrates? Any other fish harassing this one? What is the temperature on this tank?

My knee jerk reaction to any odd fish behavior is to do a water change first. Can't hurt and it just might help!

 

[nonamethefish]

Mihht be fear of comign out because of to few cories and/or a big predator looking fish.

 

[colesea]

For a cory, it is odd, and it is not odd, behavior.

Cories are a schooling catfish and like to be with many of their same kind cories (Ie peppered cories with peppered cories, green with green etc). Sometimes they see their own reflection in the glass and try to school with it, especially if they are the only cory in the tank.

Change the tank water if it is necessary, and if you do have the room for it, definately add three more cory friends for you lonely one.
~~Colesea

 

[fishman0]

My peppered has a 1 peppered cory friend, I've watched them during the day and when the lights are off and he doesn't seem to get harassed. The problem with him is his top fin does not move it doesn't go up or move at all it looks like he can't move it he isn't oddly colored ethier. I'll get two more corys and see if that helps.

 

[fishman0]

oh the temperture is 76 at the bottum of the hex. Should I raise the temperture.

 

[toodles]

Personally, I prefer to keep my fresh tanks at 78º to 80º but that is up to you....it should not be the cause of the fishes odd behavior.
So the top fin is clamped down? What to the other fins look like? Are they ragged looking at all? Oh, BTW, do you have a hospital tank?

 

[fishman0]

The others fins look fine and I don't have a hospital tank. Parents complain about noise so it might be a while til I can get one.

 

[NTidd]

Noise??

 

[fishman0]

The tanks in the living room an the fliter makes a little bit of noise and my parents complain about getting another tank. Even though I could just keep it in my room.

 

[wayne]

Is there any cover, plants or so on, or is it bare bottomed. If bare bottomed, it might well be a bit scared. Don't raise the temperature to help the catfish - c. paleatus like a little cooler than many fish I believe.

 

[fishman0]

I have plants the only short ones I have are dwarf hairgrass and tiger lotus.

 

[wayne]

Does he eat, how long has this been going on?

 

[fishman0]

I just noticed red blotches on his body there very faint some are 2 are by his stomach 1's by his gills and a few near his tail.