Is It Possible

[picothepleco]

To worry about your tank and its inhabitants so much that you actually cause them to be stressed.

Everything was fine in my tank (its been set up for about six years at my mom's house and then I moved it to my house) and after a long wait (about a month)I finally got my first pair of keyhole cichlids. They were doing fine for about a week and now suddenly they have come down with ick. I treated with aquarium salt a few days ago, but the cichlids are just staying at the bottom not doing much. I think they might die. I wish I had room for a quarentine tank,  becuase I would absolutely put them in thier and treat them. But an extra tank is definitely out of the question. I think I may have just stressed them out, from all of the figiting with things in the tank, such as moving decorations around and stuff. What do you guys think?

 

[McCool]

I would think it's just something from the store you bought them at, and the stress may have just accelerated it. Have you turned the heat up also?

 

[picothepleco]

Thanks for responding. Yes I have turned my heat up but there is no sign of my little cichlids. I'm assuming they're hiding in my plants. If I try to find them by moving stuff around will that stress them out more? I don't want to stress them any further but I hate the thought of thier dead little bodies somewhere in the tank.

 

[TallTree01]

Yes changing their tank will stress them out. Water changes are good for ich.