Texas cichlid rough shape

[anzo1993]

Hello, I just received another large Texas cichlid of about 7 inches from a friend but this guy seems to be in very rough shape, the previous owner had him in a tank with a broken heater for about 4 months so the water temperature was definitely not ideal, also water changes weren’t done so now I have him in a 65 gallon with the water temperature cranked up to 28-30, he’s eating and moving around but his scales are all messed up white/pale blue , I’m hoping he can make a full recovery but might always have some scarring

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

Best of luck! They’re hardy fish so hopefully he pulls through

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Not a Texas Cichlid. You called the other small male you got a Texas as well. Both fish are Carpintis. Try to remove Texas from your vocabulary for now….lol. Carpintis are strong fish. I feel terrible for this guy as you can see a lot of his face is pitted and like you stated already probably scared. The previous owner should be kicked in the head. My feeling is if you can’t take proper care of a living creature then don’t have pets. It’s really that simple for me. Good luck healing him up. Clean water and a good diet will go a long way.

 

[duanes]

Agree, not a Texas cichlid (H cyanoguttatus), most likely H carpintus, or a hybrid.
Heaters are not very important for these more temperate, northern and central Mexican cichlids.
I would put my carpintus in outside tanks in spring in Milwaukee, where water temps would drop into the low 60sF, and they did well, and actually seemed to do best with some seasonal variations.
The lack of water changes leading to excessive nitrate was probably the most detrimental factor.

 

[anzo1993]

Not a Texas Cichlid. You called the other small male you got a Texas as well. Both fish are Carpintis. Try to remove Texas from your vocabulary for now….lol. Carpintis are strong fish. I feel terrible for this guy as you can see a lot of his face is pitted and like you stated already probably scared. The previous owner should be kicked in the head. My feeling is if you can’t take proper care of a living creature then don’t have pets. It’s really that simple for me. Good luck healing him up. Clean water and a good diet will go a long way.

Yeah just a force of habit calling them Texas lol but yeah he was in rough shape, he’s already healing up abit and eating better, I’ll try and post and update pic soon , also the putting in the head isn’t as deep as it looks on second look, I’ve seen alot worse in Oscar’s and Flowerhorn

 

[anzo1993]

Agree, not a Texas cichlid (H cyanoguttatus), most likely H carpintus, or a hybrid.
Heaters are not very important for these more temperate, northern and central Mexican cichlids.
I would put my carpintus in outside tanks in spring in Milwaukee, where water temps would drop into the low 60sF, and they did well, and actually seemed to do best with some seasonal variations.
The lack of water changes leading to excessive nitrate was probably the most detrimental factor.

Yeah it was definitely many factors that lead to this forsure, temperature wise he definitely took a heating considering I’m from Canada where the temperature in the winter drops to -30 so even in houses it gets pretty cold in some basements

 

[anzo1993]

Just an update, he’s looking good or at least I think he’s a he lol, color is coming back also

 

[duanes]

Looks like a nice male to me, and good with your female in the background..

 

[anzo1993]

Looks like a nice male to me, and good with your female in the background..

Thanks, Yeah I thought she can use a tankmate lol so far there getting align great and possibly starting the breeding process although I think she’s more willing than he is right now lol

 

[jjohnwm]

Congrats on rescuing this fish!

And that's what this was: a rescue. Funny how there will be thread after thread detailed so-called "rescues" which usually entails somebody going to a store, buying a fish after tut-tutting about the conditions in the tank it's in, bringing it home (often to conditions that are only marginally better...) and feeling like they are heroes. Meanwhile the guy at the store is already unboxing another shipment of the same species and throwing them into the same tank as before because they always sell well!

You actually did rescue this guy...and yet I don't think I've seen the word "rescue" anywhere in the thread. Well done, and Bravo!