Does this fish have some issues? Please have a look.

[The Morning]

If you have a quarantine tank I would have no problem buying the dolphin. He has some pretty aggressive tank mates at the fish store. I would take the chance that it is just stressed and in a new environment could improve.
What size is your current tank?

 

[Kashif314]

Take your time and always do research prior. You did a great thing getting advice prior to purchasing the fish.

Thanks. Yes, in past I did some impulse buying and later have huge problems. Store employees always told me that I can keep some particular fish. Once I was this close to buy snake heads who were small and was told they ll be completely fine with african cichlids. Then same happened with fire eel, mono angels etc. I am now trying my best to do research before buying something.

If you have a quarantine tank I would have no problem buying the dolphin. He has some pretty aggressive tank mates at the fish store. I would take the chance that it is just stressed and in a new environment could improve.
What size is your current tank?

I don't have a quarantine tank unfortunately. Yes, that fish has some very aggressive tank mates. I was thinking same to buy and put inside my tank where I ll be putting other fish with him like peacocks or mbunas but not such aggressive like zebra Tilapia. I am not concerned about his tattered fins but concerned that if its some sort of disease.

 

[Kashif314]

Edit: forgot to add. Its a 100 gallon. 150 cm long, 55 cm high and 45 cm in width tank.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

When you observe a cichlid in a good shape, it's alert, lively, its fins are spread out, it swims and uses all fins to stabilize itself and move. Clamped fins = stressed or maybe even sick fish.

It's your call. It'd be a gamble to buy this cichlid. You may win or you may lose. Ideally the seller should let the fish recover or better yet isolate it from other culprits and then see... and when it bounces back, then sell it to you. That's a tall order but that's the right thing to do for the seller who cares about their reputation. If they don't do it, your experience will be hit and miss, and their rep will be hit and miss.

As a buyer, you are getting smarter. Continue controlling your impulses and the monkey see monkey want cravings. You are doing well, IMHO, far better than me probably anyway. It's easy to advise.

 

[RD.]

I am not concerned about his tattered fins but concerned that if its some sort of disease.

I have kept & bred C. moorii (blue dolphins) for many years - and IMO that fish does not look anymore sickly than any other beat up fish that is under stress.

Having said that, when buying from a LFS it is always a gamble, because pathogens and health issues are not always immediately visible, and only show themselves when the numbers proliferate. Ich is a good example, it can be in the gills for a period of time before one sees any spots on the fish. Fish gets stressed, from netting, bagging, and moving to a new tank - and BOOM, major ich outbreak in your tank. That scenario probably plays out millions of times a day, around the world.

Also, some fish are simply carriers of pathogens, never showing any visible signs of trauma or stress themselves, they have built up an immunity, but pass them off to other fish that have compromised immune systems due to stress, etc.

Your new tank IS your quarentine tank, and you need to treat it as such.

 

[Kashif314]

When you observe a cichlid in a good shape, it's alert, lively, its fins are spread out, it swims and uses all fins to stabilize itself and move. Clamped fins = stressed or maybe even sick fish.

It's your call. It'd be a gamble to buy this cichlid. You may win or you may lose. Ideally the seller should let the fish recover or better yet isolate it from other culprits and then see... and when it bounces back, then sell it to you. That's a tall order but that's the right thing to do for the seller who cares about their reputation. If they don't do it, your experience will be hit and miss, and their rep will be hit and miss.

As a buyer, you are getting smarter. Continue controlling your impulses and the monkey see monkey want cravings. You are doing well, IMHO, far better than me probably anyway. It's easy to advise.

I have kept & bred C. moorii (blue dolphins) for many years - and IMO that fish does not look anymore sickly than any other beat up fish that is under stress.

Having said that, when buying from a LFS it is always a gamble, because pathogens and health issues are not always immediately visible, and only show themselves when the numbers proliferate. Ich is a good example, it can be in the gills for a period of time before one sees any spots on the fish. Fish gets stressed, from netting, bagging, and moving to a new tank - and BOOM, major ich outbreak in your tank. That scenario probably plays out millions of times a day, around the world.

Also, some fish are simply carriers of pathogens, never showing any visible signs of trauma or stress themselves, they have built up an immunity, but pass them off to other fish that have compromised immune systems due to stress, etc.

Your new tank IS your quarentine tank, and you need to treat it as such.

I did buy it and he or she is doing great. No tattered fins anymore. Maybe he or she took some heavy beating there at store.

 

[Kashif314]

Here are some pictures of him:





He/she is my most favourite in the tank. Very adorable face. Glad no issues.