Sick p. socolofi?

[merc123]

My p. socolofi has become really lethargic and will either lay on the bottom or swim at the top of the tank in the current. It's tail fin is no longer splayed out with all it's fin laying flat and the fish has just about stopped eating. If I don't tap on the glass it won't come to the feeding ring. All my other fish are perfect and my ammonia is 0 and nitrites are 0. My nitrates are now 40 because it's coming time for a water change. I have 2 rena xp3's running on the tank (it's a 30 gallon).

 

[tyl089]

your pics. kind of blurry, but looked like the fish have a bloated abdomen? does it?

 

[merc123]

It's possible. I'll have to check when I get home. I didn't even think about malawi bloat

 

[merc123]

It passed away tonight in the hospital tank. It was bloated and fins nipped or rotted. I'll post pics tomorrow

 

[Scotty]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Never nice to lose a fish.
Be careful of what you feed your mbuna. Too much protein will kill them off quickly, Malawi bloat. Their digestive system is similar to that of a cow, also a grass eater. Very long intestines and if the protei rich food stays there too long it causes a bug, which they all have, to grow. This ultimately results in bloat. Look at any spirulina based food and then also a home made vegetable mix. Zuchini, spinach, peas, spirulina powder, garlic paste and raw pink prawn. Liquidize this and freeze in smallish packets. Spread the stuff out so it is no thicker than 2-3mm in the packet.

 

[merc123]

I've got some tropical fish flakes that have spirulina in them and I just bought some spirulina plus flakes. I may try that home made mix though.