Ram Cichlid Aggression

[MarineMoney]

Hi,

Got a 4ft planted tank with drift wood, caves, plenty of hiding spaces etc and had three Ram cichlids. One Ram was very big and the two other ones smaller but equal size. Ive just had to remove the big Ram of which we have had for two years and one of the smaller ones and put them into a neighbours tank.
The one thats left has been terrorised and has a bright red gouge on its gill, it looks really sore. He is swimming about pretty normally and is eating and is active but im worried that the stress may eventually kill him, even though he looks in a fairly okay condition now. I've taken out the two aggressors but wondered if there is anything I can do to help him.

I have witnessed the aggression, with the large cichlid ramming the smaller one against the side of the tank and the other smaller one joining in the bullying...but i was wondering about bacterial infections, the gill doesnt just look red, it does look like a chunk of it is missing so i assume it is bullying and not a bacterial cause?

Also, one a last note, my barb and one of my clown loaches display a slight case of flashing, its not often but because I know these are particularly vulnerable to whitespot im keeping a close eye. Ive examined the fish closely, no spots, loss of colour, sluggish behavior or lack of interest in food or socialising etc so do you think this is just the occasional itch, at which point do you treat for parasites or just accept as 'normal' behavior?

thanks

 

[minxfishy]

The larger one and smaller bullies were most probably a pair (male/female) and thus were bullying the other as it was invading on their territory. If it just looks like a chunk has been bitten out of the gill, with extra water changes and dosing with melafix should clear it up, however you mention other fish are flashing? How often?

Can you give us your tank size, water parameters for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, temp and PH please, plus a full list of tank occupants in order to help you a little more, thanks.

 

[MarineMoney]

Hi my tank is fully mature, been going around 2-3 years.

PH8 (it is a little high for community and has been since the start but thats a long story which ive explained elsewhere)
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate under 20
KH is 12 (Live in a medium-hard water area)
GH 18
Temp 26
Tank size 200L

Occupants:
3 Clowns
1 Black Ruby
2 Danios
1 Cichlid (now)
2 Dwarf Gourami
4 Candy Stripe
4 Phantom Tetras
1 Molly (not by my choice, sorry to be mean!)

I water change about 20% weekly and my tank maintainence is of utmost importance to me so I think my water quality is okay.
Ive looked at the fish today after taking the two bullies out, I thought they paired and wouldnt stop until they eventually killed him thats why I removed them both. Anyway he is far more active and out in the open, swimming about sifting through the gravel and eating readily. He still has a red gill but at the moment looks okay.

My larger clown and the ruby flash randomly, they could do it three of four times one day and then not do it for the next two. Ive examined them closely through the glass looking for excess mucus, stringy worms, lumps, bumps, spots, redness, puffed up scales etc etc but they all look healthy... I could think of a reason, I recently had to mess around with the aquascape quite alot lately on aconsistent basis due to plants issues, taking out aggressive fish which was alot of stress for both keeper and fish, and having to be in their territory quite a bit, maybe thats it?

I'll keep an eye I think...

The larger one and smaller bullies were most probably a pair (male/female) and thus were bullying the other as it was invading on their territory. If it just looks like a chunk has been bitten out of the gill, with extra water changes and dosing with melafix should clear it up, however you mention other fish are flashing? How often?

Can you give us your tank size, water parameters for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, temp and PH please, plus a full list of tank occupants in order to help you a little more, thanks.