Is My Fish Dieing ... Or Is It Possible It's Carrying Eggs?

[Lisa67]

My yellow lab mbuna may well be dead by the time I get an answer to this... I got home from work this morning, checked my tank and one of my yellow labs is hanging out at the bottom. Just kind of sitting there... not really laying on the bottom, but close to it. When I flicked the glass it started swimming around but keeps going back to the same spot. It didn't eat very much when I fed them and a few times it seemed to briefly swim a little sideways but then straighted itself out. I recently had an outbreak of ich. My temp is still up high. I didn't use any medication. I haven't seen any stringy white poo and its belly does not appear bloated at all. Infact, it doesn't look sick at all. My only hope is that it may have just started carrying eggs. I've never experienced that before, so I don't know how a fish holding eggs behaves. Any input appreciated.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I don't know a thing about mbunas, but have you dropped the temp back down to normal? The higher the temp the less oxygen there is for the fish, from what I've read. I don't think carrying eggs would result in that behavior.

 

[Lisa67]

When I turned the temp up I lowered the water level to increase surface agitation. I'd like to start lowering the temperature but I was told to leave it up for 10 days. I dont think it's an oxygen problem...I have 14 other fish in the tank who seem fine. None of them are hanging out near the top. I think I forgot to mention that my ammonia and nitrite are 0. Trace amounts of nitrate. (Actually that was 2 days ago. Ill test again when I wake up)

 

[This Old Spouse]

Just trying to think of ANYthing that would cause the problem.

 

[Lisa67]

Thanks for your input. These crazy fish!!! I got up, and it appears to have totally recovered. Who knows what will happen by tomorrow! I tested my water and there is a tiny amount of ammonia. <0.25 While I know that's not ideal I don't think it would have caused the fish to act that way. I don't have time for a water change today because I have to go back to work, but it's definately on the agenda.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Water changes until the ammonia hits 0. Traces of nitrates are okay, but not nitrites. Keep the faith!