- Have you tested your water?
- Yes
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 51-60%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Rainbow cichlid, about 3”, took a pretty nasty hit from something last week. I can’t figure out what happened to it. It appears he lost all the flesh, and I can’t tell if there is an eye or jaw bone left on that side. Other side of face and rest of body totally unscathed. Here’s the stocking at the time of injury:
1 Oscar ~8”
3 firemouth 3-4”
4 Silver dollars
1 blue phantom pleco ~5”
1 sunshine pleco
Two of the FM were fairly aggressive and removed same day as injury. Fish had been together in the 125 for about a week at the time. Obviously the Oscar is the main suspect but he hasn’t even show interest in any of the fish at all, and the wound is only on the one side of the rainbows face.
Fish is acting relatively normal but I have not witnessed him eating successfully- he tries but I don’t know that he can physically transfer food “in”. So two questions...
1) will he make it, can any of the experts here see if he has the necessary “parts” to heal up and survive?
2) anyone had a similar looking injury? Could it have been the pleco? One of the FM I removed?Just doesn’t look like an Oscar attack, you’d think that there would be damage all around if he tried to swallow.

1 Oscar ~8”
3 firemouth 3-4”
4 Silver dollars
1 blue phantom pleco ~5”
1 sunshine pleco
Two of the FM were fairly aggressive and removed same day as injury. Fish had been together in the 125 for about a week at the time. Obviously the Oscar is the main suspect but he hasn’t even show interest in any of the fish at all, and the wound is only on the one side of the rainbows face.
Fish is acting relatively normal but I have not witnessed him eating successfully- he tries but I don’t know that he can physically transfer food “in”. So two questions...
1) will he make it, can any of the experts here see if he has the necessary “parts” to heal up and survive?
2) anyone had a similar looking injury? Could it have been the pleco? One of the FM I removed?Just doesn’t look like an Oscar attack, you’d think that there would be damage all around if he tried to swallow.
