Convict Cichlid Is Sick :(

[jaca81]

Some history.. we had two convicts about 5 years ago that gave us a beautiful fry and filled our large tank with lots of little convicts.. over time, they've died for one reason or another and now we have only 3 left. two males and one female. one of the males has been behaving really strangely.. he'd lie on his side but if we approached he'd quickly get up and swim around normally, so we weren't overly concerned at first, although his colour was a bit pale. then he started sitting vertically in our plant, either facing up or down.. this went on for about a week, and this morning we found him crashed. his gills look pink and he can't really swim anymore we are so devestated, is there any chance that we can help him somehow??

please give some advice...

 

[marksp]

Some history.. we had two convicts about 5 years ago that gave us a beautiful fry and filled our large tank with lots of little convicts.. over time, they've died for one reason or another and now we have only 3 left. two males and one female. one of the males has been behaving really strangely.. he'd lie on his side but if we approached he'd quickly get up and swim around normally, so we weren't overly concerned at first, although his colour was a bit pale. then he started sitting vertically in our plant, either facing up or down.. this went on for about a week, and this morning we found him crashed. his gills look pink and he can't really swim anymore we are so devestated, is there any chance that we can help him somehow??

please give some advice...

Hi

How big is the tank?
Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates?
Whats the pH?
Try 2x75% watercahnages on successive days

Are the remaining fish a pair and bullying the sick one?

The gills are pale pink or red? - if they are pale, try adding a strong air pump and make sure your filter outlet agitates the surface strongly. Check the ammonia/nitrite levels

Has the fish been feeding?
What are you feeding?
Has it been pooing? has the poo changed colour or got long and stringy?
Is the belly nicely rounded or is it pinched in or bloated?

 

[jaca81]

Hi

How big is the tank? the tank is quite big for amount of fish we have, at least 40 liters. we have a big sucker fish, 5 little clown loachers and 2 big ones, and the convict pair.
Have you tested for Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates? no.. we haven't
Whats the pH? haven't tested, do we get a test kit for this? what should the pH be?
Try 2x75% watercahnages on successive days will do the water change!

Are the remaining fish a pair and bullying the sick one? i haven't noticed them bully him at all, i haven't noticed any agression in the tank whatsoever.

The gills are pale pink or red? - if they are pale, try adding a strong air pump and make sure your filter outlet agitates the surface strongly. Check the ammonia/nitrite levels they are pink, we have a very good filter, only recently bought - and we have air pumping in at the surface, as well as a bubbler.

Has the fish been feeding? he was feeding, he was lying vertically in the plant, but when the food came out, he did it.
What are you feeding? pellets
Has it been pooing? has the poo changed colour or got long and stringy?i haven't noticed
Is the belly nicely rounded or is it pinched in or bloated? it looks nicely rounded, he seems so sick, he is just lying down at the back of the tank, it's so sad to see
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[samiam9818]

you should get a master test kit to test for all the water stats. if any of the levels are off it can stress fish out and even cause them to die.

To me it seems like you have way too many fish in the 40L tank (if i'm right thats only about 10US gallons). Too many fish can cause poor water quality which could be the reason your convict is acting so sick.

 

[jaca81]

you should get a master test kit to test for all the water stats. if any of the levels are off it can stress fish out and even cause them to die.

To me it seems like you have way too many fish in the 40L tank (if i'm right thats only about 10US gallons). Too many fish can cause poor water quality which could be the reason your convict is acting so sick.

ah.. sorry it is 80L - just found out from my husband. i wouldn't say it's too crowded, it looks very sparse in there. i will get the master kit. in the meantime, i don't think my convict will fare too well (( :'( so sad ..

we only cleaned the tank out a week ago. we usually do it 1-2 times a month.

 

[kribensis12]

You should be doing weekly waterchanges ( with dechlorinated water). Don't EVER replace your filter cartridges. If they need cleaned, clean them in TANK WATER. NOT TAP!!!!!!!!!! Do you do gravel vacum's? If not, I suggest you buy one. I would reduce the stocking to only the convict's, as they are very agressive, and it's not healthy to have that many fish in there. In the wild they don't live like that.

A Master Test Kit will help greatly. I would narrow down the disease to Gill Flukes. They are cuased by poor water quality. I would look for a medicine called Maracyn 2