fishnovice
Fish Herder
I first noticed a red patch on one side towards the tail almost 1 cm by 4mm the day after I got them (had a pair but female died).Not sure if he was always like that or could he have been injured during netting? Assumed he'd injured himself and scraped skin off on rock in tank so removed rock. Three months later the red streak is still there (surely a wound would have healed?)but has recently become brighter red. He also got a smaller red patch on the other side 2 weeks ago where his tail joins his body. Don't know if he burnt himself on heater or something but skin looks OK apart from colour. The red patches are like the ones female convicts have but more like streaks and in different places. He's definitely a boy, (almost 4 inches pointed fins) as the pair produced several batches of fry.
He has become a favourite fish, he's been through a lot (long story) and I would really like to do the best for him. Thinking of getting him new female but want to make sure he's not sick before I get her. No red on fins so don't think he's a Honduran.
No sign of any illness,no weight loss or gain, skin looks healthy no white spots or strange slime. He used to sulk in corner at tank bottom after mate died but has become more active now I've moved him to a different tank because his old one was green with algae. Mainly hangs round the heater sometimes in vertical tail down position, but often swims to surface and all over tank bottom. No swim bladder problem, can swim horizontally as normal when he wants to and feeds off tank bottom. Occasional flicking of head side (far from red patches) on tank bottom which is mirrored so he may think he's "attacking" another male cichlid in his reflection
No plants, substrate or ornaments in tank.
No chemicals apart from StresZyme
Used to do twice weekly water changes, ammonia 0 trace of nitrite less than 0.25 with API kit. Now doing 20% daily change to keep nitrite at 0.
He has become a favourite fish, he's been through a lot (long story) and I would really like to do the best for him. Thinking of getting him new female but want to make sure he's not sick before I get her. No red on fins so don't think he's a Honduran.
No sign of any illness,no weight loss or gain, skin looks healthy no white spots or strange slime. He used to sulk in corner at tank bottom after mate died but has become more active now I've moved him to a different tank because his old one was green with algae. Mainly hangs round the heater sometimes in vertical tail down position, but often swims to surface and all over tank bottom. No swim bladder problem, can swim horizontally as normal when he wants to and feeds off tank bottom. Occasional flicking of head side (far from red patches) on tank bottom which is mirrored so he may think he's "attacking" another male cichlid in his reflection
No plants, substrate or ornaments in tank.
No chemicals apart from StresZyme
Used to do twice weekly water changes, ammonia 0 trace of nitrite less than 0.25 with API kit. Now doing 20% daily change to keep nitrite at 0.
