New to Cichla

[Wiggles92]

I recently began my adventure in all that is Cichla (after doing some research, of course) when I received my three little monos (2") yesterday.

I currently have them in a 29 gallon with the little silver arowana (2.5") that I received with them. All of the fish currently are feeding on frozen bloodworms, and I intend to wean the monos onto pellets once they get used to the aquarium.

I originally had them at 80° F, but today I've been slowly raising the temperature to 86° F after I noticed that the one appears to have a small spot of ich. I had already made sure to have adequate levels of salt in the water, so raising the temperature is all that I really need to do to ensure that the ich quickly runs its course, right?

 

[Steveo McNello]

I'm not a huge user of chemicals, but yes, up the temp and add the right dose of salt. I have never had a problem treating ich this way. Keep your water around 85 as tiny peacock bass need higher water temps. Good luck!

 

[ringoyam]

i love cichla

 

[Wiggles92]

I'm not a huge user of chemicals, but yes, up the temp and add the right dose of salt. I have never had a problem treating ich this way. Keep your water around 85 as tiny peacock bass need higher water temps. Good luck!

Alright, sounds good. They're eating well still despite the little spots of ich; their bellies are bulging with bloodworms currently.

 

[Diskboy12]

Pics!?

 

[gangster]

Make sure youve got an airstone in there as well. But your on the right track...salt and 86+ temp and you'll be good. start crushing little bits of pellets into the bloodworms so they get used to the taste. Then slowly add more pellets to the mix once they are used to them.

 

[Wiggles92]

Pics!?

I'll post pictures if I can get my camera to cooperate.

Make sure youve got an airstone in there as well. But your on the right track...salt and 86+ temp and you'll be good. start crushing little bits of pellets into the bloodworms so they get used to the taste. Then slowly add more pellets to the mix once they are used to them.

I already have two airstones in there now. Will two be enough or should I add another?

I'll be sure to start mixing pellets in with the bloodworms. Maybe if I'm lucky they'll learn to eat pellets by watching the arowana because it's already starting to mouth pieces of pellets.

 

[Wiggles92]

Two of the peacock bass are having trouble swimming normally now. They currently swim on their sides part of the time but are still able to feed and lay on the bottom right side up. The third mono is able to swim and eat just fine.

Any idea what might be wrong with them? Will they ever recover from whatever is causing them trouble or should I euthanize them?

 

[The True Guapote]

do you also have a power filter on the tank? Perhaps too much current in their weakened state? Have you checked on your water chemistry?

 

[Wiggles92]

do you also have a power filter on the tank? Perhaps too much current in their weakened state? Have you checked on your water chemistry?

No, there is no current whatsoever because I'm using an undergravel filter. The water chemistry is fine. The aquarium was fully cycled when I added them, and I did a water change prior to adding them to ensure that the water quality was great.