Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Acting Weird?

[Electric Warrior]

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Tank size: 200L
pH: 6.6
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 20ppm
kH: 3
gH: 3
tank temp: 26.5C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

One of my female cockatoo's is now swimming part-time with clamped dorsal fins and rays, and clamped anal and caudal fins that she sometimes hangs downward, like a dog with its tail between its legs. At other times, seems to release its fins and swims like normal. Also swims on it's side every now and again. Just fed the tank and she ate as normal.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
2 x week, 20-30%

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
sand substrate, bogwood, live plants, Indian almond leaves, clay pots.

Tank inhabitants:

3x cockatoo dwarfs (1 male, 2 female), 1 bnp, 12 x cardinal tetra

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

12 x cardinal tetra

Exposure to chemicals:
none


So yesterday, I added a shoal of 12 cardinals to my tank. The shop said that they had been quarantined, and they look healthy and are acting fine. BUT, last night, I noticed one of my female apistos was not around anywhere, and I thought maybe she just went to hide somewhere. She wasn't around this morning, so I lifted one of the almond leaves, and she was under there. As I came home this evening, she still wasnt around, and the other female was swimming around with the symptoms described as above. She will sometimes go swim in front of the male apisto, and sort of roll on her side, and sort of make flicking motions with her body. She is still a yellow colour, but the black markings are duller. The other female is still under the leaf, coming out occasionally, like to feed this evening, and her markings are bright yellow and black. What I am wondering is if there are eggs underneath that leaf? The other female's strange behaviour is what is concerning me though, and I was wondering if it could be stress related from adding new tankmates, or something to do with the other female possibly breeding, etc.? I have yet to lift the leaf because I didnt want to disturb her and her eggs if that is what is under there? I just tested all of the params as above, and they all seem fine.

 

[WILDER]

What do you feed your fish.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.
Is the anus of the fish, enlarged, or red inflamed.
Do any fish look swollen, bloated, or skinny, sunken in bellies.
Can fish maintain balance in the water.
Any fish show signs of laboured breathing.
Any lumps, or bumps, beneath the skin,.

 

[Electric Warrior]

What do you feed your fish.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet.
Is the anus of the fish, enlarged, or red inflamed.
Do any fish look swollen, bloated, or skinny, sunken in bellies.
Can fish maintain balance in the water.
Any fish show signs of laboured breathing.
Any lumps, or bumps, beneath the skin,.

1. A variety of either flake food/frozen bloodworm or brine shrimp/small cichlid pellets
2. Normal appearing poo
3. No to any
4. No, they all look normal, as far as I can see, except the fins on the one female. The bellies, etc. were the first things I checked.
5. As far as I know, the balance seems totally fine
6. Not at all.
7. Nothing at unusual with skin.

 

[WILDER]

If her behavior totally out of charactor I would isolate her and try a bacterial med.

Flipping on there sides -
Swim bladder, internal parasites, internal tumour, bacterial infection.
Tail weighing the fish down in the water. Swim bladder.

Feed some green veg.

 

[Electric Warrior]

It's really weird though, the more I watch, she only seems to be flipping on her side when she gets near the male. But her fins are pulled tight to her. All but the pectoral fins.

 

[WILDER]

Clamped fins are signs of stress, illness.

If you don't think she right in herself, I think I would try a bacterial med.
But you do know your fish more than I do.

 

[Electric Warrior]

Well, I have only had them for about 3 weeks. But the more and more I am watching them, the more it seems like spawning behaviour than illness. She has just been following the male around all over the tank for hours, and flipping on her side in front of him/swimming right up against him. The other one that has gone under the leaf, I have a feeling is guarding eggs. I haven't seen them, but she pops out every now and then to chase anyone else off, especially aggressive to the pleco when he comes near. Would a female full of eggs have her fins pulled tightly though, that's what i am not sure about? Otherwise, she seems totally normal, just wont leave him alone. My water is sort of optimal for apistos to spawn from what I have read, so I am starting to think that it is just that?

 

[WILDER]

I have never kept cichlids Itt might also help if you post over in the cichlid section of the forum.

 

[Electric Warrior]

Okay, so basically I think that this was all a false alarm. After the tank lights went out a while ago, I had a look and she is definitely laying eggs in a hollowed out hole in some bogwood, and he there hanging out with her and appearing to be 'fertilising' them as I type. Obviously the other female that is under the leaf, and is seriously aggressive with most anything comes near the leaf has also had relations with recently with him recently, I am sure.

 

[WILDER]

Bless her. Fish do make you worry at times. Glad to hear it was a false alarm.

Good Luck.