Compressicep, Help!

[xxJimBoZxx]

Can someone help me....
I have 3 black compressicep calvus in my tank ard 3ins long. At first they were active eating well with other cichilids but recently the were not so active as before and always hiding in the rocks. I am feeding them with Spectrum Thera+A by New Life which was recommended by the aquarium where I bought them from. But now they are so lethagic and not eating as before. Today, 1 of them died and I am worried. They cost $140 each here in Singapore.
My tank setup has coral chips and coral sand wif large slade rocks and a few drift woods.
Can someone enlighten me on what to do? Thanks

 

[mike dunagan]

what are the tankmates, tank size, water change schedule, and such. Do you have an air stone?

 

[xxJimBoZxx]

My tank is size is 4ft x2 1/2 x 2 1/2ft and tank mates is a front are white spotted blunthead 2 Fuscotaeniatus, a Kaiserfish, a Dimidiochromis compressiceps, one Frontosa and a couple of crown loach. Have an air stone in the main tank and another beside the pump in the sump filter tank. No water change was done since I got my tank 3 months ago. All I did was top up evaporated water every now and then. I add 30 ml of Bacteria Life everyweek.

 

[Muske]

Test your water.

Are an of the tankmates harrasing them?
Are the remaining two staying close to the same cave/rock?

 

[xxJimBoZxx]

so far there is no other fishes harassing them . They stay alot on the bottom near rocks crevices in different area. And they seem like breathing very hard. Just now I went to but a bottle of Tanganyika buffer and putted 4 tablespoon of it in my tank. And is to hope for the best and see what happens tommorrow.

 

[Pharaoh]

My tank is size is 4ft x2 1/2 x 2 1/2ft and tank mates is a front are white spotted blunthead 2 Fuscotaeniatus, a Kaiserfish, a Dimidiochromis compressiceps, one Frontosa and a couple of crown loach. Have an air stone in the main tank and another beside the pump in the sump filter tank. No water change was done since I got my tank 3 months ago. All I did was top up evaporated water every now and then. I add 30 ml of Bacteria Life everyweek.

I suggest that you get a test kit and check the parameters of the tank(ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates). I would say that you are overdue for a water change. The fish are probably stressed and dying because of it.

 

[xxJimBoZxx]

huh? I thought we're not suppose to change water so often? does drift wood cause the level of ammonia to increase? other fishes are ok except my calvus

 

[kingyella]

you have to do water changes based on your bio load and filtration. I would first check the water parameters as suggested. If they check out, you could move onto some other problem that may be going on.

 

[xxJimBoZxx]

Now I am doing changing 1/4 tank of water of my 4ft tank and checking for ph level. May I know what is the ph level that is suitable for compressiceps? And for my 4ft x 2 1/2ft x 2 1/2ft what will the volume be in litres or gallons?
Thanks!

 

[mike dunagan]

ph is one thing, but what about the rest of the params