Re: NANFA-L-- Flathead catfish

geoffrey kimber (gkimber2-in-gmail.com)
Mon, 3 Apr 2006 13:18:00 -0500

If you're really worried about lead contamination, I would get rid of
all the gravel/logs/etc from the tank and start over again

then I'd do lots of water changes for the next few months. I have
never tried to decontaminate a fish with heavy metal poisoning, but as
I recall, there is a dechlorinator/water treatment product that states
that it chelates heavy metal ions. I don't think it would be enough
to remove the lead from the gravel and decorations, but it might be
helpful-in-removing the lead ions that leach out of the fish.

I don't know if a lead test kit for drinking water would be helpful,
but you might consider it.

geoff kimber

On 4/3/06, Moontanman-in-aol.com <Moontanman-in-aol.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 4/3/2006 7:08:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> njz-in-clevelandmetroparks.com writes:
>
> The fact that it is skinny could mean that it hasn't eaten in a long while?
> Outside of water quality parameters (nitrates too), there may be some kidney
> damage or intestinal blockage. I'd go water quality route first.
>
>
>
> Thanks Nick, it has been a while since I changed the water in that tank and
> I've noticed that paint flecks are falling in some of the tanks that are
> against the wall of my greenhouse that butts up against the garage. Probably old
> lead based paint. Yet another small detail I seem to have missed, I must be
> getting senile. Since it is such a shy fish I seldom see it outside it's log
> and I've been feeding it large earth worms and crayfish without watching to see
> if it was feeding. The last flathead I had I trained to come up and take
> food from my hands. I had planned to do this with this one but as usual things
> have not exactly gone according to plan. I'll do a water change but can anyone
> tell me the best way to nurse it back to health? I really want this fish to
> live, flatheads are my fav catfish and i am a catfish nut. (second only to
> sturgeon of course)
>
> Michael
>
> Socrates last words.... "I drank WHAT?"
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