Mysterious white mucus growing on catfish?

[KatieBunky]

I've added 7 new fish to my tank in the past week, I've done a brief water change, added a few more stones, plants & general decor today. All was well until I noticed one of my catfish (which I can't remember the species name) seems to have a thick, white mucus growing over his entire body except his head. Some of this white mucusy stuff is peeling off & flapping around on his body. He is about 4-6 years old but for a catfish that's pretty young. He is still breathing but he is laying on his side but not moving.

Does anyone know what this white stuff is? How can I fix it? Will it spread to my other fish?

Also if anyone knows what species my little guy is, please let me know. I've added a picture for you all to see.

Please help, this guy means a lot to me

Thank you

 

[Delapool]

Hello, could be the slime coat but excess produced to fight off something. Did it happen very quickly?

I would QT for sure.

 

[KatieBunky]

I hardly ever see him because he buries himself in one of the plants. I cut this plant down two days ago because it had overgrown & that's when I noticed it. He has been in a breeding net over the past two days & this white covering stuff has clumped into areas mostly near his head & it is still thick. He is back in the main tank now & he is not moving but still breathing. This is the best picture I could get of his current condition. What does QT mean? I'm not very good at forum language haha

 

[venymae]

QT mean quarantine. Or putting him temporarily in a separate tank so he does not infect your other fish. 5 gallon buckets work in a pinch. Just add an airstone and heater.

 

[KatieBunky]

Okay thanks

My tanks are my pride & joy. No one can take them from me.

 

[KatieBunky]

Okay thanks, if I had any spare equipment I'd try quarantine him, what do you think it is?

 

[anteatergoanna]

Have you tried "melafix"

 

[Delapool]

Any other signs with him, are the other fish ok?

 

[KatieBunky]

No I haven't tried melafix & the other fish are fine. He's got white spots all over his head as well

My tanks are my pride & joy. No one can take them from me.

 

[KatieBunky]

I have good news! I just came downstairs to look at my tank & there was no sign of Mr. Fish (a very imaginative name I know, but I was about 10 when I came up with it) & I presumed he was dead & had been eating. I looked around my whole tank & couldn't see him, then I remembered there is a coconut hiding place near where he was yesterday. So I lifted up this coconut & there he is, wriggling around & swimming normally just like his normal self the white spots on his head & the thick white stuff along his body is nearly all gone. I think it's just been stress because I've changed quite a bit of the tank in a short space of time, but thank you all for your help I'm so relieved he's okay. I still don't know what species he is, if anyone has any idea please let me know thanks again

 

[Delapool]

Silly question but the white spots weren't ich (white salt grains)?

Good news he / she is doing better.

Terrible connection here to research anything.

It doesn't sound fungal or bacterial. I would have suspected parasites or some sort of skin infection maybe - probably into the gills as well. Hoping for a full recovery, would be keen on any further posts to find out how he improves

 

[KatieBunky]

I don't know what the white spots were, but I'm guessing it was nothing serious as it's all cleared up by itself & none of the other fish are infected. Whatever it is, he's better now & just needed to chill out, a bit like us when we have a cold & just want to sleep XD I'll keep you updated ^_^

 

[Delapool]

Thanks, really good news on the recovery.

 

[KatieBunky]

Little guy is doing awesome, all the spots are gone & so is the white slimy stuff. His breathing was really slow & you couldn't even tell if he actually was breathing at one point but it has all gone back to normal now. He got stuck in a tiny castle today & now has a few white scratches down his body but no bleeding & he has had scratches before so he should be fine. Mr. Fish is being his usual self & hiding at every possible chance. I will upload a picure soon if I can get him out of hiding All is happy in the tank

 

[Delapool]

Good news

Maybe the scratches opened up infection sites? Just wondering as I've noticed one b/n catfish here looking too big to get in and out of his hidey hole cave. Thinking of re-arranging but kind of happy as it is.

 

[KatieBunky]

Maybe, I'll keep an eye on him. I love bristle nose catfish

 

[Delapool]

Same here, I'd definitely get them again. My neighbour took a female back to the lfs that got too big. Wish I had of taken her now as have 3 males and 1 female.

 

[KatieBunky]

I saw a breeding pair of bristlenoses in my lfs, the female was albino & the male was black but they were £30 my tank is too small & really overstocked at the moment so I couldn't get them

 

[Delapool]

That would be nice. Yes, every so often they come up here but the price is too much.

 

[KatieBunky]

The places I go to always have some, but usually they're juveniles