Electric blue acara help

[Jglenn213]

First off I wasn't sure whether to post this in this section or diseases. So sorry if in the wrong one. My electric blue acara has been staying pretty stationary at the top of the tank the past couple of days. Kinda worried. I can't find anything visually wrong other than its fins seem a little clamped. No gasping at the surface or anything. Just staying above the plant in the corner. Haven't seen any signs of sporadic breathing. No white or stringy poop. No darting, flashing or scratching. No visual indications of ich. It is still eating fine. It will come out from the corner to eat at feeding time. I've made no changes to my fish's diet. Their staple is hikari bio gold pellets. Just the clamping of the fins and staying the top corner. The only other thing is the vent seems to be dropped (assuming that's what it is). It has been for about a month though.
I do roughly a 50-60 percent water change about every 3 days.
Parameters are always 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and less than 20 ppm nitrate. Ph between 6.5 and 6.7 and temp at around 79 degrees.
I run 2 fluval 406 canisters on my tank.
It's tankmates are 2 severum, a festivum, a chocolate cichlid, 2 albino bristlenose pleco and one zebra pleco. All are smaller than the acara except for my spotted severum. No aggression issues in the tank.
I don't like throwing medication at my tank unless I have to and know exactly what the issue is. I've been wanting to add some some just for some all around benefit but I'm not sure if my plecos, Especially my zebra, will be sensitive to it.
The pictures are the best I could getell of it last night. It actually spread it's dorsal a little when I came up to the tank. So they don't look very clamped in the photos. I don't know if it's a male or female (why I'm saying it). If someone could clarify on that, it would be much appreciated also.
Anyone have any insight? See anything I don't? Tried to give as much info as possible for help.
Maybe I'm paranoid. Just get worried when I see behavior or anything that isn't what seems to be normal for my tank.

 

[Jglenn213]

Apparently it posted the same 3 pictures multiple times. My apologies.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Pay attention peeps!! This is how you ask for help!

My eyes may be fooling me but his/her belly looks a little concave which suggests intestinal issues, try something like hex shield or Epsom salt soaked pellets. If he/she is still eating now is the time. I could be wrong and those who know more can tell you better.

 

[Covetous]

Anytime I've ever seen a fish do this is was due to aggression of another fish In the tank. Severum can be tough little buggers although alot of people think their pacifists but I've definitely seen a few very mean ones. I used to have a fish that did this on top of a fern I had in the tank. We always laughed and said he was "learning to ferning" aka he was hiding and pretending to be a fern. Once I removed the aggressor he came down and acted completely normal. Although you say this isnt the case, and you've ruled out all the easy to spot illnesses. So maybe this is just his favorite hiding spot/territory he has claimed for himself? Does he chase off anyone that comes to this corner?

 

[Jglenn213]

Is this a male or female? lol can anyone tell?
His/her territory is/has actually been on the opposite end of the tank. He/she has a small crater dug that it usually retires to when the lights go out for the night. Havent noticed it chasing any fish away from the spot that it has been the past couple of days. This acara and my larger severum have been together in this tank from the start(ive had them a little over a year now) . They have always got along great. Buddies almost. lol He/she is no pushover though. I have had to get rid of some wild caught guianacara dacrya and a firemouth that were too aggressive and tried to terrorize everything. The acara would always stand its ground and scare/chase them away, but it never initiated any disputes.

As far as intestinal parasites, his/her belly does seem to look disproportionate to me now that it was mentioned. Would it hurt to try to treat as a preventative measure anyway? I have a bottle of Prazi-pro that I treated for flukes once. Does this work on intestinal parasites as well? If so can the food be soaked in it? If not, I will buy some hex shield but I would have to order it. Local stores dont carry it. I have aquarium salt that I use on my goldfish tank. I can use it until the Hex comes in. Do I just dissolve it in a container of water from the tank and then soak the food in it before feeding? How much should I use and how many long should I do it? Thanks for the help and advice so far. It is much appreciated.

 

[Covetous]

Well, intestinal issues are tricky. But soaking in the food is the best. Although I'd go with epsom salt soaked food first as Chockful O Phail said, but I've used prazi pro before to good effect. Although in full disclosure I used it in combination with hex as well. And as for the sex, I'd guess male. Largely dependant on the fin shape. Although wait till some one with more knowledge on electric blue acaras chimes in. Good luck man! Let us know how he does.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

In the freshwater diseases forum there is a sticky on treating hex, in it there is a detailed description on how to soak the food with Epsom salt. Epsom salt is available at every Walmart in the pharmacy

 

[tlindsey]

Male EBA

 

[Jglenn213]

Thanks for the help everyone. Bought some epsom salt today. Im going to start a 5 day treatment along with my hex shield. Hopefully in another week his stomach wont look as concaved.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Hope it works out for you, should be fine since you said he is still eating. Again great post asking for help, well done laying out all the info!