In need of some help

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Giggalz

Black Skirt Tetra
MFK Member
Nov 27, 2017
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Howdy roo! Im new to flower horns but not cichlids. I just got two very small flower horns a week ago today (less then 2 inches). They are that night but have been hiding and not eating all week. Today when putting my new thermometer to use I noticed one of them swimming erractic around the tank. Like a corkscrew on a rollercoaster. He would then rest on something. But neither are swimming correctly at all. I noticed the other one not able to swim anywhere..like he had no construction over where he's going and watched him rest upside down under a rock. I've had this tank set up for years. But I did test the water and nitrates were at 40. I've done a water change but it had no affection but will again until that number goes down. I have previously tested the tank but I don't think I shook the nitrate bottle before testing because my readings have been perfect along with the higher ph.

I will say one did get in the way of cleaning the tank. I didn't know either of them were tucked in that corner and lifted a rock with a net and one frantically scurried out. (I have a big tall tank and I'm short ). so he did have a tear in his fin that I noticed the next day and saw him swimming upright but in circles..I figured it was from the fin.

I've tried searching online but I'm uncertain of what this could be. And I really really don't want a fish death.
 
Giggalz said:
Howdy roo! Im new to flower horns but not cichlids. I just got two very small flower horns a week ago today (less then 2 inches). They are that night but have been hiding and not eating all week. Today when putting my new thermometer to use I noticed one of them swimming erractic around the tank. Like a corkscrew on a rollercoaster. He would then rest on something. But neither are swimming correctly at all. I noticed the other one not able to swim anywhere..like he had no construction over where he's going and watched him rest upside down under a rock. I've had this tank set up for years. But I did test the water and nitrates were at 40. I've done a water change but it had no affection but will again until that number goes down. I have previously tested the tank but I don't think I shook the nitrate bottle before testing because my readings have been perfect along with the higher ph.

I will say one did get in the way of cleaning the tank. I didn't know either of them were tucked in that corner and lifted a rock with a net and one frantically scurried out. (I have a big tall tank and I'm short ). so he did have a tear in his fin that I noticed the next day and saw him swimming upright but in circles..I figured it was from the fin.

I've tried searching online but I'm uncertain of what this could be. And I really really don't want a fish death.
Click to expand...

I am not 100% sure about the issue but, what I think is that the fishes are really stressed atm.

If the water condition is good, do not do water changes or moving the ornaments and try and keep everything the same so that the FH can adapt to new environment faster. Covering up the tank is an option for reducing stress.

Foodwise, try to contact the breeder or shop you got the FH from and see what they were feeding. Tbh if they were not eating for a week, they should be eating any new food.

What happened with my FH is that the FH did not eat all of the pallets I was giving (eating and spitting out). It took me 3 days to successfully feed the FH without it not accepting the food.
Now my FH eats pea, cucumber, baby shrimp, Grand Sumo pallet, Hikari pallet and much more.

Hope everything gets sorted well :)
 
RounderRs said:
I am not 100% sure about the issue but, what I think is that the fishes are really stressed atm.

If the water condition is good, do not do water changes or moving the ornaments and try and keep everything the same so that the FH can adapt to new environment faster. Covering up the tank is an option for reducing stress.

Foodwise, try to contact the breeder or shop you got the FH from and see what they were feeding. Tbh if they were not eating for a week, they should be eating any new food.

What happened with my FH is that the FH did not eat all of the pallets I was giving (eating and spitting out). It took me 3 days to successfully feed the FH without it not accepting the food.
Now my FH eats pea, cucumber, baby shrimp, Grand Sumo pallet, Hikari pallet and much more.

Hope everything gets sorted well :)
Click to expand...
He's not good at all. He has been in a cave all night and day half on his side swimming in circles. He's pretty banged up..his fins and tail ragged. Neither will eat at all. The other hides. I've seen him a few times peeking out. somehow my nitrates are high. I did two water changes yesterday and had no affect on the nitrates. I thought it might of been from the food I've tried giving as well as frozen food and it sat at the bottom tank so I syphoned that up last night did the water changes twice..nothing. They are so stressed I'd hate to keep changing the water on them but do not want the nitrates harming them either.
 
Giggalz said:
He's not good at all. He has been in a cave all night and day half on his side swimming in circles. He's pretty banged up..his fins and tail ragged. Neither will eat at all. The other hides. I've seen him a few times peeking out. somehow my nitrates are high. I did two water changes yesterday and had no affect on the nitrates. I thought it might of been from the food I've tried giving as well as frozen food and it sat at the bottom tank so I syphoned that up last night did the water changes twice..nothing. They are so stressed I'd hate to keep changing the water on them but do not want the nitrates harming them either.
Click to expand...

Yes always check your tap water or maybe your filter isn't enough to handle the waste that is produced.

I would say if you have any other cycled aquarium put them inside there. Its only 2-inch atm so any smaller aquarium temporarily would be ok for them to stay.
Otherwise, ask if the store you purchased from can keep the fish for you while you sort out your tank.
 
RounderRs said:
Yes always check your tap water or maybe your filter isn't enough to handle the waste that is produced.

I would say if you have any other cycled aquarium put them inside there. Its only 2-inch atm so any smaller aquarium temporarily would be ok for them to stay.
Otherwise, ask if the store you purchased from can keep the fish for you while you sort out your tank.
Click to expand...
The filter is for a bigger tank then what I have after burning up the previous filter. I've had it about a month. I've not done much feeding for it to already have issues (or at least I hope not).

The other tanks have been sitting unattended..and now don't have heaters or filters. Plus there's been no agitation so I'm afraid to know how bad that is. Im afraid to try to find the other one. I didn't realize how well they can hide. I've had a very large cichlid for some long
 
If you had it for a month running, the filter should be full of cycled media and should sort of the nitrate issue.
2-inch FH shouldn't be causing too much problem unless the tank is super super small.

Maybe your reading from the test is incorrect. As with constant water changes and with cycled media, still, the nitrate level is high.
 
RounderRs said:
If you had it for a month running, the filter should be full of cycled media and should sort of the nitrate issue.
2-inch FH shouldn't be causing too much problem unless the tank is super super small.

Maybe your reading from the test is incorrect. As with constant water changes and with cycled media, still, the nitrate level is high.
Click to expand...
This tank has been running for I think 7 years.

Hmm possibly but then I'd think the water from the tap would of been similar if it was the test kit being the issue
 
Giggalz said:
This tank has been running for I think 7 years.

Hmm possibly but then I'd think the water from the tap would of been similar if it was the test kit being the issue
Click to expand...

Best thing now would be, putting the fish somewhere safe and resetting everything from start, just to make sure everything is perfect.

If the water is causing the stress and everything, it would be better to do it fast.

Otherwise, if the water isn't the problem, maybe it just feels unsafe staying in a large tank or staying with other FH.

If it is personality issue with the fish. It would be really really hard to tell exactly what the matter is.

Fins and external damages will usually recover but will just take time (Might leave some scars though).
 
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