when cichlids attack

[BigFishSmallPond]

Hi =[ I have had 2 small sailfin plec in the cichlid tank for months now. Until the other day i noticed the cichlids swarming the sailfins

i immediately removed them and put them in the 10 that has only 3 otto in it.
I put one in a sick box as its fins were all but gone. the next day (yesterday) the one in the box was dead. the other was fine looking and cleaning the glass. today i turn on the light and its at the bottom eyes glazed, and stiff.

Just wondering if the recently spat cichlid fry may have been a factor? Another thing was my lights have been acting up lately and were strobing everytime the a/c kicked in. (damn old electrical wiring) this issue has been fixed but its the only other "change" that may have turned my fish rabid. =[ TIA for any info u may provide.

-ak

 

[WILDER]

Do you mean it has cloudy looking eyes, can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

he had cloudy eyes yah he was dead


Not sure the numbers off hand but the tests come up clear.

 

[CFC]

This is why African Cichlids and South American catfishes should never been in the same tank its a sad lesson that you have learnt but one you can now pass on to others so their plecs dont suffer the same fate.

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

hmm well my other plec is still in there and hes a lil larger than them two were. at any rate hes been in there since day one and he's fine. Those two were in there for several months and fine.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Well if you want to risk the same thing happening again, keep them in there, but personally i take the plecs out and put them in another cichlid-free tank of suitable size just so you don't risk getting another plec torn to peices- it may just be a matter of time before they turn their attention on the plec.