Does the walking catfish sting dangerous for other fish?

Savethemall

Candiru
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Oct 13, 2017
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Hi, Does someone has any info about the effect A walking catfish's poision have on other fish? thank you
 

David costa

Feeder Fish
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Oct 2, 2017
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This is what I found...most likely will paralyze take mates or even kill them if they are not strong enough to take the rush...

The spines contained in the dorsal and pectoral fin contain a venom that causes edema (swelling) and a hemolytic (causes increased blood flow in the area of the injury) if these spines puncture the skin. Smaller catfish are the fish that most often hurt people.
 
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tlindsey

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This is what I found...most likely will paralyze take mates or even kill them if they are not strong enough to take the rush...

The spines contained in the dorsal and pectoral fin contain a venom that causes edema (swelling) and a hemolytic (causes increased blood flow in the area of the injury) if these spines puncture the skin. Smaller catfish are the fish that most often hurt people.

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moe214

Goliath Tigerfish
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Oct 13, 2014
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Well for starters it'd be venom. Venom is injected vs poison which is consumed. I wouldn't doubt them having it as I've heard of other cats such as bullheads having slightly venomous tips. However I don't think it's killing anything. You can go on YouTube and watch a Hoplias malabaricus fight with one for about 15 minutes the clarias tried stabbing him with his pectorals, I'm not sure if it didn't effect the wolf or the wolf's scales were to tough for the cat to puncture.
 
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Savethemall

Candiru
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By what you are saying im understanding that if the venom will hurt another fish , the fish will have clearly signs, and a bad looking injury ,right?
 

thebiggerthebetter

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I have raised and kept several common walking catfish with hundreds of others with no ill effect. They do chase each other and kill by doing so in smaller tanks like 55 gal (at 5" themselves) but appear ok in larger tanks like 4500 gal.

I think their sting is painful, as it is with most catfish (been stung too many times to remember) but I don't believe it can kill or affect any other fish beyond some discomfort, how ever strong/weak or long/short lived.

It's a part of their deterrence system, not lethal system. Their lethal system is relentless chasing and biting, so to speak.
 
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moe214

Goliath Tigerfish
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I have raised and kept several common walking catfish with hundreds of others with no ill effect. They do chase each other and kill by doing so in smaller tanks like 55 gal (at 5" themselves) but appear ok in larger tanks like 4500 gal.

I think their sting is painful, as it is with most catfish (been stung too many times to remember) but I don't believe it can kill or affect any other fish beyond some discomfort, how ever strong/weak or long/short lived.

It's a part of their deterrence system, not lethal system. Their lethal system is relentless chasing and biting, so to speak.
Sums it up
 

Savethemall

Candiru
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thank for your help! right now he is in a 600 liter tank by himself, he is about 20 centimetrers. A few days ago i saw a few red spots on the tip of hes head right in the base of one of his antlers. yesterday i saw that it got about twice bigger. does someone have an idea what is it?
 

thebiggerthebetter

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Just Toby

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That sounds like a water quality issue or bacteria in the substrate. Check all water parameters with a drip test not dip strips and up,your water changes, maybe add a little aquarium salt and thoroughly stir up the tank "gravel"
 
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