Stressed Cockatoo? He's Recovering--

[jollysue]

I was suddenly gifted with a 10" frontosa save. I had to juggle some fish around. I put my miniatures tank community in my 100 usg that had been reduced in stock during culimnaris and moving.

Now when I put the Orange Flash colony in and the agassazi colony in, the common cockatoo male who had been the only apisto in the tank, got weird, lying on his side and acting subservient. Flash is running around terrorizing the whole tank and the Tetras are schooled up dashing back and forth across the tank. nipping everything.

At first I thought that the common boy was sick, but now I wonder if he's just at the beginning of a long bad stress streak. I hope to get him out, with the ladies, and relocate them.

What do you think? I know I need to get into the decor and add more cover. It's all about time and energy. I'm still sorting through boxes for the essentials.

 

[jollysue]

By the way the pinned threads by freddyk and Dwarf Dude are helping me understand some of what may be going on. Thanks for your efforts.

I will make more effort to enhance the decor and caves quickly. What size tank should a cockatoo colony of 1 male/3 females, agassazi red tail w/ 1 male/2 females, possibly 1 m/2 females in a second colony. Can a 100 usg be big enough with more decor?

 

[WILDER]

Don't like the sound of him laying on his side, do they normally do this as not familar with this type of fish, does he look pale in colour or darker.

 

[jollysue]

He is darker. I have seen the females show submissive behavior by turning on their side. But it's more like a puupy laying down to be tickled and hoping not to be pinched.

I kind of hoped it was gas or constipation and fed the whole lot of them ZooPlankton. It was very well received. But I haven't seen him today. As I said the whole lot of those cockatoos have a humped spine. His doesn't look right and sometimes he appears to be having trouble swimming.

That's why I was asking, just in case there is a behavior with two cockatoos that I'mnot aware of. I have no doubt that Flash is bigger and better bred if it comes to a show down.

They do seem to be less stress today. The schools are looser and less frantic.

If I break off, I haven't been to bed yet. I need to do that.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like a bacterial infection to me, when you say they have a humped spine to you mean curved, if so you could be dealing with a fish deformity from birth did you buy them that why if not if could be fish tb.

http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[jollysue]

Yes, I bought them like that. They were tiny juvies, hence the error in early sexing. I got two females and they both had curved spines. Ones was more curved than the other. I thought they were suppose to be so. I got them last spring. He matured this fall to show his colors and lead his harem, I think. The hump is only in the cockatoos, no other fish. They have been together since last spring.

 

[jollysue]

BTW, thanks for your response, Wilder. I will try to move him if I can. I found him last night after I got up, but then he scooted to another hidey. He is also behaving a little like he is avoiding the Flash. Flash takes over if he discovers traces of the curved one. Flash is determined to dominate his world. I should have named him Ivan the Terrible or something.

Flash is a bully. His females are not so much romanced as threatened. I fell for cockatoos because of the tender treatment my first boy gave his ladies. But he fell victim to the culminaris cure. This boy is just bossy--but he is Brad Pitt pretty.

 

[lucky62]

didn't notice this ..........

sorry


maybe a swim bladder problem , dunno for sure , never had much luck with it though ..........

 

[jollysue]

You've had the problem?

This is the girly that went Tom when my Gent lost the battle with the neon culimnaris med. She/he sorta picked me up after losing the Gent.

Do the ones who get it have a crooked backbone--like along the stripe? Both these "girls" had that. The other girl still does. I personnally think it's an interbreeding genetic thing at this point. He looks distressed. He kinda hops on his tail a little sometimes. My only hope is the posibility of gas or constipation. That can be very stressful and uncomfortable I am giving daphnia. See, I listen

 

[lucky62]

I think when they darken , they're not getting enough O2

 

[WILDER]

Not the writer of this information below.
The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

 

[jollysue]

Oh, fine.

 

[Griz]

You should rule out health problems first but there is another possible explanation for this sort of behaviour. Below is a question I posed and the answer I received from a well respected expert on Apistogramma. I didn't post a link as I'm not sure about the rules for linking to other forums. I hope this is helpful.

Q:
I'm hoping to gain some insight into some odd behaviour I have been noticing with my cacatuoides. I have a trio which is now about 16-18 months old and in good health. They produce fry regularly which are eventually picked off by their tankmates. (I have no desire to keep the fry)

The male will lay on or near the bottom, fins clamped, motionless and very dark in colour. It scared the heck out of me the first few times I witnessed it! I have since come to the conclusion that it is related to courtship. He only does this with one of his females very close by and she exhibits similar, but not as drastic behaviour. They sometimes will do this for long periods of time and then will quickly revert to normal colouration and behaviour. It seems to me that this only occurs when he is attempting to gain the acceptance of the subordinate of his two females. Perhaps she is shy and he needs to be more gentle in his advances? He seems to have no trouble with the dominant female who is always yellow and constantly flirting with him. She is definitely the aggressor in their relationship and produces fry like clockwork. (A rather beautiful example IMHO who exhibits some male colouration)

Any insight into what is going on would really be appreciated.

A:
Your observation is rarely seen, but not unusual. The males of many apistos will advance toward a shy female in a submissive way in order to not frighten her away before he has a chance to court her.

 

[jollysue]

I should do this later in order to get ready for work, But..

Nice tank! Shows lots of care to me. What is the difference with the fireheads and a rummy nose Tetra?

Very handsome and yellow lady Must be a fine young man around.

My Flash is such a jerk! I fell for cacatuoides because of my Gent's highly James Stewart genteel manners.

What you are describing I have seen in Flash's main lady, but crooked boy also has some swim problems. It is evident when Flash or one of the agassazi's comes near. He won't stand up to any other fish, even the silver tips. If I try to catch him he erratically leaps and darts in all directions, and when I stop he sinks to the bottom and lays on his side to rest and breath. I think Lucky62 may be right in some cases that there is a CO2--or something in the breathing--problem. It is very sad.

As a matter of fact I will put in an air stone now and add some salt tomorrow. I need to get him out so I can try to treat him with some internal antibiotic meds and food.

I appreciate your concern and prayers for the boy. He's a little funny looking and has always been so. But he's a nice boy.

 

[jollysue]

Crooked Boy is still trucking and is not laying down any more. He seems to be recovering. It may have been constipation after all.

He seems to be a survivor for now. He's still a little off balance, but he gets around and doesn't suddenly sink to the bottom that I have seen. Whatever went after him he seems to be beating. I don't see any more sick fishm although some pygmies have bit the dust. The little green neons are doing well. Everyone has calmed down. I think adding the semi aggressive gourami and apistogramas through the tank into a power stuggle which seems to be settled, now.