Blue acara sick?

[Angel223]

Hi I’m new here. I got two electric blue acara a a little over a week ago at petsmart. They have been doing good but today I noticed they were not swimming as much, hiding, one fish scratched against the gravel twice, not eating as much, and one was tipping over slightly while floating. I just noticed something small and white sticking out of its bottom and looks a little swollen. I circled the suspicious area in one picture. I have had fish before these but never had any illness besides ick. Thank you for your help.

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

It looks like the ovipositor (egg laying tube). When cichlids are ready to breed it pops out. If fish are sick it can come out too and when they are infected with intestinal worms it can become noticeable.

Look for thin red or white hair like things sticking out down there. If there is any hair like things, the fish have round/ thread worms and will need treating.

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The fish not eating properly and rolling over is a concern. Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Post the results (in numbers) here.

How long has the tank been set up for?

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week or until the problem has been resolved. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

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Your fish would show more colour if they had a darker substrate and a picture on the backing. And some floating plants would help them too.

 

[Angel223]

Hi and welcome to the forum

It looks like the ovipositor (egg laying tube). When cichlids are ready to breed it pops out. If fish are sick it can come out too and when they are infected with intestinal worms it can become noticeable.

Look for thin red or white hair like things sticking out down there. If there is any hair like things, the fish have round/ thread worms and will need treating.

-----------------------------
The fish not eating properly and rolling over is a concern. Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. Post the results (in numbers) here.

How long has the tank been set up for?

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week or until the problem has been resolved. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

-----------------------------
Your fish would show more colour if they had a darker substrate and a picture on the backing. And some floating plants would help them too.

Ok I tested my water.
Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrites 5, ph 6.8-7.2 (I can’t tell for sure what color it is!)

 

[Angel223]

Ok I tested my water.
Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrites 5, ph 6.8-7.2 (I can’t tell for sure what color it is!)

My tank has been set up for about 3 weeks. It is cycled. I cycled it quickly with a filter from another tank. I’ve got a background ordered.