Sick Cichlids! Please help

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boisblancboy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 17, 2006
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First off I have a 240 gallon tank, with one convict and two oscars. Just a couple days ago all 3 of the fish were laying flat on the bottom. The temp was normal and I cleaned up my filters. I also checked my parameters and they were all right on the money. One day after they started doing this the convict has started acting just like normal. The younger of the two oscars is acting back semi back to normal but not eating much. The oldest oscar is laying on the bottom ALOT. I have also tried opening a newer bag of food thinking they might have eaten something to upset them. But its also weird cause at times even with the oldest oscar you wouldnt know anything what so ever was wrong with him, cause he will swim hard at the glass excited to see you and then 5 seconds later he is on the bottom again. I have also noticed that while the big one is laying on the bottom I have noticed his tail fin will really quiver fast. I also just did a 1/3 WC. Help me out please with some suggestions and what i should check.

Brandon
 
ok post your water perameters up.

second what do u mean by cleaned up your filters?

third how big are your fish?,have you recently added any new tankmates?

its normal for oscars to sulk sometimes but should still swim around and eat
 
Sounds familiar...

In April '08 my 15" oscar was laying on its side on the bottom of the tank, and breathing hard (gulping). I did daily small water changes because I didnt want to put it into shock more than it was. In hindsight I probably should of done bigger water changes. It died after the 5th day....

If I could guess I'd say high nitrates caused it, because I had been slacking on water changes prior to then....sometimes the most basic lessons are the toughest to learn :(

Goodluck, wish I could be of more help.
 
0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and 5ppm Nitrates. I have a continuous drip system on my tank at a rate of 1/2 gal per hour so I never have to worry about doing weekly WC's.

I have one large Wet/dry filter and also a FX5. When I clean them I always just rinse the media out.

Nope, no new tankmates. The 3 that are in there have been together for about a year now. The convict is about 4-5", smaller Oscar is 9-10", and large Oscar is 11-13".
 
boisblancboy;2931149; said:
0 Ammonia, 0 Nitrites, and 5ppm Nitrates. I have a continuous drip system on my tank at a rate of 1/2 gal per hour so I never have to worry about doing weekly WC's.

I have one large Wet/dry filter and also a FX5. When I clean them I always just rinse the media out.

Nope, no new tankmates. The 3 that are in there have been together for about a year now. The convict is about 4-5", smaller Oscar is 9-10", and large Oscar is 11-13".
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Even though u have a drip system u should still do water changes. when u rinse the media do u rinse it in your tap water or aquarium water? If u clean it in your tap water we just found your problem.By rinsing your media in tap water u wash away all the benefiacial bactaria which your fish need to survive.
 
Changing the water continuously or on a weekly basis is the same thing. And yes I rinse the media off in tank water. This tank has been up and running for over 3 years now with not even a hint of a problem. Rinsing media in tap water will kill BB not wash them away.
 
boisblancboy;2931228; said:
Changing the water continuously or on a weekly basis is the same thing. And yes I rinse the media off in tank water. This tank has been up and running for over 3 years now with not even a hint of a problem. Rinsing media in tap water will kill BB not wash them away.
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lol kill or wash them away u stil loose them.if your waters perfect and your doing evreythign perfect than maybe just wait acouple of days and see what happens evreything ur doing is right.
 
Thanks for the sugguestions, but im pretty sure this is something other than the very basics of aquairum keeping, not trying to be offensive either. There must be something going on or it wouldnt have affected all three fish at the same time, but im at a lose to what it could be.
 
I don't know enough to be any help but I have 2 Oscars that I love, a gift from my husband. I hope your fish survive, they quickly become part of ours lives.
 
Thanks for the support! They are family and hope to keep them that way for a long time.
 
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