Skin Bleaching ?

[STRAWBERRY748]

I recently saved two chiclids from a lfs who had taken them in from someone who no longer wanted them - they were both in a very poor state with rotting fins. both are fine now but i cannot identify them due to there skin - it looks as if the orange and black one has had its body bleached - you can see its colour underneath but the body has a white look to it - its head is vibrant orange and black. the other fish has a vibrant black and blue head but its body is dull brown and white - could the water ph have done this?

p.s sorry dont have access to a digital camera to take photos


regards

dave

 

[jollysue]

I don't know about African Cichlids, but many fish get a washed out look when they have been severly stressed out.

I recently treated a clown loach for culminaris (which also symptomatically washes out the color on some fish) because he was so faded. He tolerated the treatments, seemed to appreciate the attention and did many clown dances when returned home. But he did not on further reflection seem to be infected with the big "c"

I would just see that these fish are given a stress free environment: good food, clean water, good mates. If further symptoms occur reevaluate. That is except for better and wiser words.

 

[WILDER]

If there is no signs of flicking and rubbing against objects it could be columnaris.

http/article.discusnews.com/cat-02/columnaries.shtml

 

[jollysue]

That is an exceptional article, Wilder. I got bleary eyed by the PP treatments, but I'm gratified that my salt dip treatments are recommended. I have pretty well backed off of the antibiotics other than pima/melafix and wish I had used the salt baths sooner. I put down a bronze lady that I still feel bad about. I just didn't want her to suffer anymore. But I believe she might have made it if I had known how to salt dip.

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

Both fish are doing really well now - they are eating well and do not rub or flicker - I think being in small poorly filtered tank might have been giving them problems - now they have lots of friends and i hope will live long and regain some of their colour.

thanks to all who posted

Dave

99.9% sure it is not columnaris

 

[jollysue]

Strawberry, absolutely excellent news! I had a feeling it might be a stress related fade.

My battered friend Meyer is trying to figure what a "King of the Hill" looks like in Tetraland. The silvertips come to invade Cichlid World constantly looking the food scraps over. They are all settling in. I have seen signs of couriousity and perhaps comradie from Meyer to the little people, but no aggression. He only attacks my 3 foot Mother Amazon which I must stop