Help With New Jewel Cichlid

[cocopopz]

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Tank size: 220l
pH: 7.4-7.6
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 10pm
tank temp: 26degC

Fish Symptoms
I was given a jewel cichlid two days ago. I came home from work today and I have noticed a mark along his side near the back. It is around half inch long and looks fury and protrudes a little. I dont know if he has run up againt something. It almost looks like mould. Can anyone help.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:
220l, change water weekly to fortnightly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:
None just a AquaOne MariSys 240

Tank inhabitants:
2 oscars, 2 convicts, 2 cat fish, 3 small feeder fish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):
2 new plants over 3 weeks ago

Exposure to chemicals:
None

 

[roadmaster]

According to conversion chart, 200 litres is approx 52 gallons, 250 litres is approx 66 gallons and I am hopeful, plans for larger tank to accomodate the Oscars is in the future.
Jewel cichlids are tough but perhaps not tough enough to survive with a pair of convicts and both they (convicts)and jewel cichlid will become snacks for adult oscars.
Is possible that convicts or oscars have inflicted damage to the jewel and infection is setting in.
Would change water in this tank at the rate of 50 percent weekly .
Would remove the jewel cichlid to hospital tank or quarantine tank, and treat with combonation of maracyn and maracyn II while monitoring the water in hospital tank for ammonia and nitrites. Some meds can deplete beneficial bacteria and ammonia spikes as well as nitrites can occur.
Would remove carbon if used during treatment.

Feeding feeder fish to cichlids unless you are raising the feeders is very good way to introduce disease to your fish due in large part to poor conditions that store bought feeders are kept in. Only takes one sick store feeder to infect whole tank of feeders and then your fish as well.

Have also expierienced cichlids that would refuse to eat any other foods once feeder fish made the menu.
Much more nutritious prepared foods on the market today and fishes will do far better with the prepared foods in the long term. IMHO

 

[cocopopz]

Just got to the fish shop 10mins before they closed. I now have the Jewel in a quarantine tank with its own filter, heater and light. They want to see the fish tomorrow to identify what is wrong with it, they said it might be a fungal problem.
I removed the large piece of driftwood from my main tank as I suspect that this might be a problem. I have also done a 50% water change and vacuumed all the media.
Feeder fish come from a know source so they are not a problem but I do note what you tell me about them refusing other foods. I am currently upgrading to a 8x2x2ft tank that will be running in a couple of months.

I used 50% tank water and 50% treaded tap water in the quarantine tank, should this be alright?

 

[roadmaster]

Just got to the fish shop 10mins before they closed. I now have the Jewel in a quarantine tank with its own filter, heater and light. They want to see the fish tomorrow to identify what is wrong with it, they said it might be a fungal problem.
I removed the large piece of driftwood from my main tank as I suspect that this might be a problem. I have also done a 50% water change and vacuumed all the media.
Feeder fish come from a know source so they are not a problem but I do note what you tell me about them refusing other foods. I am currently upgrading to a 8x2x2ft tank that will be running in a couple of months.

I used 50% tank water and 50% treaded tap water in the quarantine tank, should this be alright?

Would were it me,take some filter material from the large established tank and stuff it in the filter of the quarantine tank. This will help by introducing beneficial bacteria to the quarantine tank if fish is to be there for any length of time.Alternative is to change half the water from quarantine tank each day while the fish is being treated and redosing the tank with meds after each water change. I say 50 percent cause it's a bit easier to keep track of doses of meds if used ,in that way.

 

[cocopopz]

I was just having a look at my Jewel and noticed that the fluffy part of the problem is starting to peel away from the fish and there is a noticeable scar underneath it.

 

[cocopopz]

I just took a photo of the problem.