Cichlid Twirling......deaths Over Months :(

[Faythee]

Started about 2 months ago in my Tanganikan cichlid tank....one by one my juvenile Regani cichlids dying. Other fish in the tank seemed unaffected. The last one looked red in the belly area & bloated. Others had no signs at all. They would go fast, that day. Only thing I can say is they couldn't swim well and would lodge themselves somewhere (against heater, etc.),this would be in final hours. Water stats always fine, however my tapwater is measuring 1.0 ammonia and at one time 3.0 ! Tests after water changes would show ammonia but never turned to nitrites. Eventually zero ammonia. So. I'm guessing the filters took care of it. I did treat the tank with Maracyn Plus antibiotic that didn't seem to help any.
Okay....so yesterday I moved my unaffected Frontosa from that tank to my African Malawi tank. Now I have a cichlid in there twirling out of control. It was fine last night.
Any clue what I can do for this ? I'm afraid now I will have fish dying off in both tanks !

 

[WILDER]

Red bellys can be septicemia. Hard to cure once it advances.
Are the scales sticking out.

Twirling can mean the fish is dying, toxins, ph shock, internal parasites. brain damage, bacterial.

What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.
Check the anus to see if it's enlarged or red and inflamed.

How long did you use the maracyn plus for?

 

[Faythee]

No scales sticking out. I used the anti-biotic treatment full course over 5 days. I am suspicious of internal parasites as they appear bloated. Haven't added any new fish in a very long time, so not sure where they would come from. I'm going to try feeding peas, then anti-parasite flake food. Hope it works.

 

[WILDER]

You can be treating fish with antibiotics for weeks.
5 days is not long enough for a severe bacteria strain. I would do a least 2 rounds. (10 days)

Signs of internal parasites are as follows -

Long stringy white poo, clear mucas poo, or red poo.
Worms prutruding from the anus.
Enlarged anus. Red inflamed anus.
Sunken in belly.
Bent spine sometimes.
Fish will look skinny or bloated.
Fish will sometimes swim on it's side.
Fish will sometimes flick and rub.
Spitting food out, not eating.
If the parasite damaged the brain, swimming in circles fast, or twirling.

 

[Faythee]

After more research I suspect Malawi Bloat. I will treat now for both bacteria and parasites. Thanks Wilder

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[Geo Dude.]

I think it was Bloat too.

The Ammonia in your water is always going to cause you a problem. What I would do is set up a water butt or another tank just for water changes.
You will need to have a filter and heater running in it 27/7 but now fish.
Seed the filter from your tank.
The Ammonia in your tap water will keep the bacteria fed. All you have to do then is test the water before doing a water change.
Then just top it up again for the next water change.
Just take out about 50% every time you need a change. It will make some difference to your fish.

 

[Faythee]

I think it was Bloat too.

The Ammonia in your water is always going to cause you a problem. What I would do is set up a water butt or another tank just for water changes.
You will need to have a filter and heater running in it 27/7 but now fish.
Seed the filter from your tank.
The Ammonia in your tap water will keep the bacteria fed. All you have to do then is test the water before doing a water change.
Then just top it up again for the next water change.
Just take out about 50% every time you need a change. It will make some difference to your fish.

That's a very good idea except I have a 30, 60, 75, & 125 gallon tank ! Best I do is use "Prime" water conditioner and double dose as it converts the ammonia. Tapwater PH fluctuates high sometimes as well. I have to stay on top of it. It's a pain.