Need Some Help

[Soaup]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a group of african cichlids i just bought 3 cichlids maybe 3 days ago. Two i dont remember the scientific name but they look like giraffees they have the spots, anyways one of them was found the following morning mauled and i reset the tank to let everyone get their own new territory. I dont know why he got beat up the fish had no eyes no jaw no stomach, just ribs and the top of the skull. Now i took a look at this other cichlid i have never seen anything like it, Its Yellow with Vetrical stripes on its side, kinda brownish yellow, And the top of its head is purple it may be a hybrid but its beautiful. Anyways Ive had Africans for many years and taking a look at this fish this morning it looks like his eye was either beat up or he has some sort of fungus he has a white coat over his eye. What should I do, Take him out and isolate or should i try to treat the tank or do nothing and hope it was just an injury?

Please help soon if he is sick i dont want it spreading to my other guys.

 

[j@mie]

I have a 55 gallon tank with a group of african cichlids i just bought 3 cichlids maybe 3 days ago. Two i dont remember the scientific name but they look like giraffees they have the spots, anyways one of them was found the following morning mauled and i reset the tank to let everyone get their own new territory. I dont know why he got beat up the fish had no eyes no jaw no stomach, just ribs and the top of the skull. Now i took a look at this other cichlid i have never seen anything like it, Its Yellow with Vetrical stripes on its side, kinda brownish yellow, And the top of its head is purple it may be a hybrid but its beautiful. Anyways Ive had Africans for many years and taking a look at this fish this morning it looks like his eye was either beat up or he has some sort of fungus he has a white coat over his eye. What should I do, Take him out and isolate or should i try to treat the tank or do nothing and hope it was just an injury?

Please help soon if he is sick i dont want it spreading to my other guys.

sounds to me like you have added new world cichlids to your african setup, new world being "convict cichlids" which can be very very agressive, especially if you have 3, there is a 50/50 if not more possibility you have a beeding pair, if you have they will kill off the 3rd one "which is whats happened", i would either get another tank and move them, or take them back to the shop.

From what you describe, they sound to me like convicts im about 90% sure but could be wrong, if like i say 2 of them are a breeding pair, they will kill off anything that comes near the mother, and from experience, your african cichlids will be very sad.

hope this helps

 

[Soaup]

No no, They were 3 cichlids two were the same one was a completely different cichlid, They are all african i have an african set up. All the cichlids in the tank are Mbuna, My question is after one was killed the other now looks sick his eye is cloudy, im asking if its possible he was attacked and not sick. I dont know if i should Isolate him because im unsure of whats wrong. Im afraid if i wait to long he will get the others sick then i lose everything.

 

[j@mie]

No no, They were 3 cichlids two were the same one was a completely different cichlid, They are all african i have an african set up. All the cichlids in the tank are Mbuna, My question is after one was killed the other now looks sick his eye is cloudy, im asking if its possible he was attacked and not sick. I dont know if i should Isolate him because im unsure of whats wrong. Im afraid if i wait to long he will get the others sick then i lose everything.

ok, well unless there is any signs of attack, ie nipped fin etc then i wouldnt think so, but if you have another tank, then dont hesitate, move him straight away just in case, if not, then take him back to the shop and explain your thoughts.

 

[keane]

Hi,

The first two you describe are Haps, not Mbuna. Nimbochromis Venustus to be more specific.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1160

These fish are far less aggressive than Mbuna and you were, in all honesty, asking for what happened by introducing them into an already established Mbuna community .

They both need to be removed from the tank and returned to the LFS (if they will accept them in the condition they are in).

The other fish you refer to could be one of a number, but does sound like an Mbuna. He may have a better chance than the haps but just keep an eye on him because, as I have already mentioned your tank is settled and a pecking order has been established. To add a new member to the mix could be asking for trouble.

If you see any signs of abuse remove him and return him as well.

steve

 

[Soaup]

Thats not them, They are Mbuna. I cant return both of them one of them is dead, i have had these fish in the past but lost them few months back to a parasite. They were fine for about a year and the other one is doing great, i used to have the scientific name i will have to get that for you so you can see what i have but i have since removed the sick fish and its now being housed in a 20 gallon and is now on medication.