Hey guys,
As the title suggests I have a sick rusty cichlid. About two weeks ago I noticed that the fish's belly was sunken in a bit, but assumed it was due to not getting enough food while I was in TN for New Years. I watched carefully for a few days and the fish's behavior seemed completely normal, and the sunken belly started to look better. The fish was eating and was even doing some chasing, so I don't think it has been bullied (maybe the occasional chase, but nothing that caused damage). Now it is not looking good. A couple of days ago the sunken belly returned and then yesterday the fish looked sick. It seems to have almost no energy, stays near the surface of the water (isn't gulping for air and is staying horizontal), greatly decreased appetite, color is off, and fins are rotting (especially its tail fin). He does approach during feeding time, but doesn't eat much at all - if anything. I have been paying close attention and all of the other fish are pretty much leaving him alone - even at night (I was up late writing a paper). His condition does not seem to have changed since yesterday. NOTE: as I am writing this I am seeing fish pick on him a bit for the first time.
My guess is internal parasite, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions. No other fish is showing any signs of anything - not even sunken belly. I have treated the tank today and yesterday with melafix, mostly in an attempt to boost my other fishes' immune systems. Another guess is possibly old age.?. I bought the fish (actually a pair) about six months ago, but they were already a full 4+in. My LFS owner said their previous owner was moving and had to get rid of them so I don't know how old they are. So saying the illness is due to old age is purely conjecture.
Does anyone have any guesses, and treatments? I read an article that studied the effects of epsom salt for internal parasites and was thinking about trying that (the results were astoundingly positive, and showed the epsom salt to work better - especially long term - than most medications).
The only change that I have made to the tank recently (as in since November at least) was adding a powerhead to keep waste from accumulating on top of the sand. I have kept up with water changes and have been rinsing/changing the filter pad that serves as mechanical filtration before going through the bio-filtration in my wet/dry. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are about 20 but I am do for water change today or tomorrow, and my pH is about 7.8.
My final question is at what point do I remove him to protect the other fish? I unfortunately don't have a quarantine/hospital tank (I know, shame on me). I just don't want his condition to continue to get worse and then whatever is causing his illness to spread. I know that is kind of a bad attitude to have, but I think at some point we have a responsibility to our other fish and to the sick fish - why should it suffer?
Thanks in advance.
As the title suggests I have a sick rusty cichlid. About two weeks ago I noticed that the fish's belly was sunken in a bit, but assumed it was due to not getting enough food while I was in TN for New Years. I watched carefully for a few days and the fish's behavior seemed completely normal, and the sunken belly started to look better. The fish was eating and was even doing some chasing, so I don't think it has been bullied (maybe the occasional chase, but nothing that caused damage). Now it is not looking good. A couple of days ago the sunken belly returned and then yesterday the fish looked sick. It seems to have almost no energy, stays near the surface of the water (isn't gulping for air and is staying horizontal), greatly decreased appetite, color is off, and fins are rotting (especially its tail fin). He does approach during feeding time, but doesn't eat much at all - if anything. I have been paying close attention and all of the other fish are pretty much leaving him alone - even at night (I was up late writing a paper). His condition does not seem to have changed since yesterday. NOTE: as I am writing this I am seeing fish pick on him a bit for the first time.
My guess is internal parasite, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions. No other fish is showing any signs of anything - not even sunken belly. I have treated the tank today and yesterday with melafix, mostly in an attempt to boost my other fishes' immune systems. Another guess is possibly old age.?. I bought the fish (actually a pair) about six months ago, but they were already a full 4+in. My LFS owner said their previous owner was moving and had to get rid of them so I don't know how old they are. So saying the illness is due to old age is purely conjecture.
Does anyone have any guesses, and treatments? I read an article that studied the effects of epsom salt for internal parasites and was thinking about trying that (the results were astoundingly positive, and showed the epsom salt to work better - especially long term - than most medications).
The only change that I have made to the tank recently (as in since November at least) was adding a powerhead to keep waste from accumulating on top of the sand. I have kept up with water changes and have been rinsing/changing the filter pad that serves as mechanical filtration before going through the bio-filtration in my wet/dry. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are about 20 but I am do for water change today or tomorrow, and my pH is about 7.8.
My final question is at what point do I remove him to protect the other fish? I unfortunately don't have a quarantine/hospital tank (I know, shame on me). I just don't want his condition to continue to get worse and then whatever is causing his illness to spread. I know that is kind of a bad attitude to have, but I think at some point we have a responsibility to our other fish and to the sick fish - why should it suffer?
Thanks in advance.
