Texas cichlid attacked by flowerhorn.

[Johnnyt123]

Hi everyone.
Some of you may have read a previous thread I posted about my green Texas cichlid who can’t be boyant and just always sits on the bottom of the tank.
Well I can home the other day to find him being attacked by my 2 paired flowerhorns. The poor guy was just laying on the bottom of the tank on his side and they were both biting and digging into him. They finally realized he can no longer hold his alpha status.

The week long daily dose of metronidazole didn’t seem to help him. I also force fed him mashed peas with metronidazole and flakes through a syringe and that didn’t help either.
He is quite injured but I think he will ok. I have separated the flowerhorns now.

Can anyone suggest how to treat his lack of boyancy??

Thanks.

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

IMO, probably best to euthanize the Texas Cichlid. It looks like it's mid section has caved. What ever pathengen is affecting the fish, it's gone too far, doing too much damage
To fix. Keeping the Texas in the tank is likely exposing tankmates to the disease.
If you are set on continued treatment, might try a copper based med like Coppersafe or Cupramine. Hope things level out soon.

 

[Hidan]

I'd say QT the texas and try whatever treatment the others recommend. Cichlids sense weakness and the others may very well attack him and finish off the job.

Given the extent of the damage, it is hit or miss as to whether he will survive. Keep your fingers crossed and do your best.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I would agree with quarantining the texas. It may be a parasite of some kind, or maybe a defect of the swim bladder due to unknown causes. You could try giving it it's own tank to live in, if it can't swim up but can scoot around fine. But in case it is parasitic, I would probably not keep it in the tank. Might preventatively treat with paraguard or similar as well.
Hidan is right the other cichlids may sense weakness and pick on it now. Looks like a lot of aggressive cichlids crammed into a small divided tank to me, probably not the best scenario.
If you do decide to euthanize (im not entirely convinced it's necessary- might just be swim bladder) the easiest and most humane way is to use clove oil.

 

[Rocksor]

If you want to try something to treat his buoyancy, then I would put him in a QT and treat for possible internal swelling around the swimming baller. Put him in a 27g plastic storage tote, heater and an airstone. Using water from your tank, dissolve 1 teaspoon of epsom salt per 10 gallons of water to help reduce any swelling. Add in methylene blue to prevent external infection due to his injuries, and help with the healing process by bringing in more oxygen into his system. You should change at least 5 gallons of water per day (using tank water), and treat for about 2 weeks. Replace any epsom salt and MB removed as a result of the water change.

I would have kanaplex in hand in case you start to see red streaks due to the injuries.

 

[Johnnyt123]

If you want to try something to treat his buoyancy, then I would put him in a QT and treat for possible internal swelling around the swimming baller. Put him in a 27g plastic storage tote, heater and an airstone. Using water from your tank, dissolve 1 teaspoon of epsom salt per 10 gallons of water to help reduce any swelling. Add in methylene blue to prevent external infection due to his injuries, and help with the healing process by bringing in more oxygen into his system. You should change at least 5 gallons of water per day (using tank water), and treat for about 2 weeks. Replace any epsom salt and MB removed as a result of the water change.

I would have kanaplex in hand in case you start to see red streaks due to the injuries.

I have

 

[Johnnyt123]

Thanks for all your replies.

I have no intention of euthanizing him at this stage.
He seems to be ok and I guess he will heal. He is eating and isn’t being picked on now that the flowerhorns are separated.
I know I have crammed too many fish into a 3ft tank. It this is a temporary measure until my 5x2ft tank is up and running. I will treat him with Epsom salts and methylene blue maybe in a couple of weeks. If he never regains his bouancy I will have to just leave him in his own tank. He is so cute and peaceful I don’t have the heart to euthanize him.
Here are a couple of update pics.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Well good luck. 5x2 tank is really not big enough for these fish to live together without high chance of them maiming each other like this again. Looks like you have 4 8-10" cichlids and a bunch of 3-6" in a 30 gallon? Poor fish...

 

[Johnnyt123]

Well the Texas cichlid has recovered well.
However his lack of buoyancy remains to be a problem. He is still eating well and seems active.
I am wondering if it would be worthwhile putting him in a floatation harness.

View attachment 1323512

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Op I would really consider changing your stock.
With the tank you have now and even your proposed tank, your looking at trouble.
I see many more fatalities to come.
I agree with Gourami swami's assessment.
A 5 foot or even 6foot is not a big tank when dealing with these cichlids.