Cuban cichlid paralyzed?

[rrcoolj]

Backgroud...

Ok so I have 3 cuban cichlids(nandopsis tetracanthus) and one is 3-3.5" and the other two are about 2.5". These fish are in a 125. They are housed with 6 silver dollars(all roughly 3") and a pair of midas(amphilophus citrinellus) largest being 6".

Nitrite 0
ammonia 0
nitrate 10ppm

I run 2 aquaclea 110's on the tank, an xp2 canister, and an aquatop 500. I also do 50% twice weekly water changes.


Here's the problem... One of the smaller cubans cannot use the back half of her body. It has been like this for months now. She still eats and flares aggressively with the other cuban. She acts completely normal except she does prefer to stay at one part of the tank. My question is will she ever heal to the point of being able to use her tail again? There is nothing out of place from where I can see she just can't move the back half of her body or her tail. Anybody experienced this before?

 

[rrcoolj]

 

[mshill90]

Has she always been like this? Could be an internal birth defect of some sort.

 

[JML1997]

Is there any physical abnormalities to the fish?

 

[rrcoolj]

Thanks for the comments guys. She has not always been like this as far as I know. She show no sign of broken spine or anything. It's like her body is stiff and she can't use her tail. She still eats and flares at my other cuban. But she doesn't wander around the tank. I was told on another forum that she COULD be eggbound and that might cause the stiffness? Is that true?

 

[JML1997]

Thanks for the comments guys. She has not always been like this as far as I know. She show no sign of broken spine or anything. It's like her body is stiff and she can't use her tail. She still eats and flares at my other cuban. But she doesn't wander around the tank. I was told on another forum that she COULD be eggbound and that might cause the stiffness? Is that true?

I wouldn't think she would be sexually mature yet..

 

[mshill90]

It's possible.. but I wouldn't think at that size. I personally have dealt with egg bound fish and I haven't ever seen or heard of that being an issue.

Have you thought about putting her in another tank? I would also think that at that size sexing would be iffy.

 

[rrcoolj]

I am trying to put her in another tank but she is a small fish in a big tank. I will try to pull her tonight and show you guys what I am talking about tomm. I honestly don't know if she is actually a she. I am going by color and behavior and size.

 

[JML1997]

I am trying to put her in another tank but she is a small fish in a big tank. I will try to pull her tonight and show you guys what I am talking about tomm. I honestly don't know if she is actually a she. I am going by color and behavior and size.

A big net helps a lot!

 

[rrcoolj]

Not when you have a ton of rocks and wood in the way.