banged up cichla

[new2natives]

I have a 14" Ocell that has been acting funny

I have sold off a lot of the fish that were in the tank. I thought at first maybe he was just lonely or upset, but its been a few days now

He is in the tank with catfish, and a single 19" Mono P.bass. But i havent seen anyone picking on him.

Symptoms:
The first day he just sat at the top right corner all day, occasionally his top fins would actually come out of the water. he was just kind of hanging out in the return current.
I did a 50% water change and added some salt to the tank.
Yesterday was better, but he still wasnt super active.

He is not eating at all.

And i have noticed that his lips and mouth look a little funny. Reddish in areas. And it gets a little worse each day, but its nothing too bad. I dont think.


Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dabears54]

im assuming you checked water parameters?

 

[new2natives]

The water tested at 7.8-8.0 pH, 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrite, and High Nitrate the first day before the water change
(my tank always has medium amounts of nitrate, no matter what i do)

I did the water change and the nitrates were back down to a medium level, but I have not tested them today yet.

 

[johno27]

Some times if fish are hanging at the top there is low dissolved oxygen. Do you run an air stone? Or do you keep the tank temp pretty high?

 

[new2natives]

temp is usually pretty warm (80-82 i would guess), but its been that way for 1-2 years now
and i am running a trickle sump, and return at 2000gph, so i thought that would take care of oxygenating the water??

i've seen fish (in other tanks) gasping for air and things like that, but he wasnt doing that at all.
he was just slowing swimming stationary into the current, about 1" below the surface. and every 1-2 minutes it would push him up and out of the water a little bit.
that lasted 2+ hours while i was keeping an eye on him.

I do have a few battery bubblers laying around, i will hook them up tonight and see if that does anything

 

[johno27]

Yah sounds like oxygen won't be the problem, I would guess he is being bullied or maybe a possible ick outbreak. I would just monitor it closely and maybe add some salt if your tank is salt friendly