Keyhole Cichlid Strange Behaviour

Scrotius

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I've had a group of 5 young similar sized Keyhole Cichlids for 1 week (2 male 3 female). I'm keeping them in a 58G planted tank with a shoal of 9 tetras (been in the tank about 3 weeks).
This morning one of the Keyholes was acting sick (male), unable to control height in the water and scraping along the bottom of the tank - only moving when scared.
The other only symptoms were that his dorsal fin was constantly flexed out fully and he had changed to a mottled colour pattern as Keyholes do when they are scared.
I set up a quarantine tank (8G) and put him in there and gave him a dose of anti bacterial medicine.
After 3 hours or so he regained some liveliness and started swimming again and eating brine shrimp i put in his tank.
Now he seems ok although he still insists on keeping his dorsal fin fully flexed, none of the others have done this - is it significant?
I'm gonna keep him in quarantine for a couple of days but I'm a bit bemused by this strange fin behaviour.
Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Sounds like he as taken a battering from one of the others.
 
I think maybe you will have issues with the two males and this is the sub male now - the dark coloration is a sure sign of problems can you split them at all? How is the tank for line of sight break ups? This can help with cichlids - I'd keep him in quarantine for now - if he was having boyancy issues maybe he is keeping his dorsal up for balance?
 
I think maybe you will have issues with the two males and this is the sub male now - the dark coloration is a sure sign of problems can you split them at all? How is the tank for line of sight break ups? This can help with cichlids - I'd keep him in quarantine for now - if he was having boyancy issues maybe he is keeping his dorsal up for balance?

Splitting them up is gonna be a bit difficult, I have another tank but it isn't really big enough.
He isn't having buoyancy issues anymore but still has his dorsal fin erect constantly.
There are plenty of places for them to hide from each other although I do have one male that is a bit bigger than the other.
I have never seen them fight or show aggression towards each other though.
Do you think I can help the situatuion by creating more hiding places/more vertical scenery?
I'd rather not seperate them - when I bought them they had been in an undecorated tank in an aquarists for 3 months I was told, and they all seemed healthy.
For the week I've had them they have all been friendly with each other.
Are there any other ways to improve things?
Thanks for your help!
 
Sounds to me like a pair is forming and they are starting to become aggressive to the other in the tank. If you do end up with a breeding pair i hope you have a big tank or you will need to separate the pair.
 

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