Cichlids Dying

[timmystood]

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Tank size: 150 UK Gallons
pH: 8
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: <2
kH: N/A
gH: N/A
tank temp: 25c

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): I've had this tank set up now for 1 month and 1 week. In that time i've lost 3 fish for unknown reasons. I lost my first cichlid after 2 weeks, my second a week later and now i've lost a 3rd fish 2 weeks down the line. They act very inactive for about 3 days, lying on bottom of tank and refusing to feed, they are so inactive they even let me touch them. After 3 days they die (I've even tried putting them in quaratine tank and feeding them up, but they still die after 2-3 days. During their last day of so they struggle to maintain balance.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: At the moment twice a week at 50%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: 2 filters, 1 x External Hydor Prime Filter, 1 x Internal Fluval 4Plus - I add dechlorinator and no other chemicals.

Tank inhabitants: 11 African Cichlids, originally 14

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Scottish Pebble Rocks, these rocks were added after the first 2 fish deaths so can't be responsible.

Exposure to chemicals: N/A

Digital photo (include if possible): (this is just an overall photo)

 

[Tolak]

Refusing to eat & hanging around the bottom or back of the tank usually indicates an internal protozoan, many times towards the end they will have balance issues. If it were just balance issues, I would suspect a swim bladder problem, which is usually bacterial in nature, but could be due to constipation, which will affect the swim bladder at times. African cichlids tend to get constipation more than New Worlds from what I have seen.

I could recommend some meds, but most are unavailable in the UK. Epsom salt will often help with constipation & bloat; I believe you can get dimetronidazole through a vet. I would start with 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of epsom salt, increasing by a teaspoon per 10 gallons daily for a few days to bring it up to 3 teaspoons per 10 gallons. Epsom salt can be found at most drug stores; I've used it along with many other meds. It's an old natural remedy for constipation.

Try pm'ing Wilder, she is from the UK, and is up on the various meds available to you.

 

[timmystood]

I was thinking (after some research) maybe an internal bacteria infection?

 

[Tolak]

Could be, I would tend to think more towards the internal protizoan end due to the hunger strike. I've seen fish with internal bacterial problems still eat, while refusing to eat & hiding towards the bottom indicates internal protizoans, as does whitish stringy feces.