Help! My Red Tail Catfish....

[Sicklidkid]

I was noticing my 13" Red Tail Catfish has some slimey stuff coming off of him and it floats in the water after he sheds it. Is this a disease or do Red Tails sort of shed?

I had him in my 90 gallon with my Red Devil, tore up his fins a bit so i took the RTC out and put him in a 29gal hospital tank and treated him with melafix for a couple of days. Fins healed and I threw him back in my 90 gallon and moved the Red Devil to a diffrent tank. When I put the RTC back in the 90gal thats when I noticed the slimey film stuff coming off his body. Its also breathing kind of heavy (I know thats not good).

Help me guys, Is it going to be ok?

[NEO_72]

I'm sorry, but the only thing that will be okay is to try to find him another home. They can grow to 3-4 feet. There is no way you can house this fish any longer. Things are just going to get worse.

[Sicklidkid]

ok thanks for that neo, but im more concerned right now as to what is wrong with him so that I can find him a new home. I dont think anyone is going to want a diseased fish. (if that is infact what it is.

Sorry I should have said that in my initial post. I know a 90 gal is to small for him in the long run, I do know they get 3-4 feet, there have even been documantation of them getting 5 ft.

My intent of this post was to ask if anyone knows what this film like slime is. Please help!

[NEO_72]

Gotcha (BTW - I would LOVE to have one of these - just gotta seal up the basement :wink: )

Check : fish.mongabay.com (http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Phractocephalus_hemioliopterus.html)

Basically I've just read they emit a reddish slime which is normal (a reaction to stress). Also read one guys post on a forum who says he gets some slime sloughing off after w/c's. I would net the slime with a fine-mesh net and dispose (but first i would google the heck out of the RTC and find out all you can).

Good luck! BTW, can we get some pics before you pass him along?

(A stupid lfs near me sells these fish in the 3-6" range - they keep them in 20 gallons at the store.....grrrrrrrr!!!:mad: )

[Sicklidkid]

I thought it might have been stress. It has been stressed from moving it to the hospital tank and then back to the 90 gal. Some sort of defense mechanism.

i'll try and get some pics up soon.

anyone else...

[Flowerhorn916]

I also have one that emits slime but only if I feed him worms, are you feeding yours worms? Both my asian redtail and shovel nose both do this after they eat worms.

[Sicklidkid]

Got The guy all better and sold him to someone who has a 300gallon tank. I feel much better now, thanks all.

Mods pls close this thread.