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Sick Cichlid :-(

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 17:33 — Mopy

Hello All,

I have a blood parrot that's probably in the vicinity of 9 or 10 years old.  He's a large fish about 8",  his home is a 37 gallon tank that he shared with a mate until about 5 years ago when one of the pair expired.  For the last few years his tankmate has been a lone serpae tetra and it has been amusing watching how the two swim in lockstep.  A few months ago the serpae (who was also quite old) died.  My cichlid has been a great pet and is full of personality and is actually quite interactive.

Recently, about a month and a half ago I literally inherited another 65g tank with it's fish.  Initially I declined accepting the tank and took three smaller red tail sharks to save them from an untimely demise.  I really had no problems introducing the new fish tho my cichlid seemed a bit miffed at some unwanted company.  This last weekend however, I did about a 20% water change and I noticed that he was looking quite pale and seemed to be hovering at the top of the tank, quite uncharacteristic for him.  Later that evening (Saturday) after the water change I was concerned as it appeared his color was fading fast.  Monday morning he was as white as a sheet and laying on his side in the bottom of the tank.  I went to fish him out as I assumed he was dead, but as the net hit him I saw some movement.

I fished him out and placed him in a tupperware container with tapwater I had treated that was approximately the same temp as the tank for him to die in.  For a couple of hours there was no movement, he just laid there white as a ghost.  A little later when I went back to check on him I was shocked as I saw that his color had mostly returned and he was up swimming.  I kept checking on him and he seemed to be improving.  I then removed the three red tails from his tank, put them back in the tank they had originally come from and did about a 90% water change and put him back in his home.  He did seem a bit groggy at first but over the course of the day seemed to improve.  This morning he was swimming around somewhat normally, and his color has about 80% returned.  I'm wondering if there is anything more I can do for him or is this just the beginning of the end?

I look to your collective wisdom for advice.

Comments

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 00:39 — Mopy

Unfortunately when I got home

Unfortunately when I got home from work today, he's looking pretty much the worst for the wear again. He's still swimming around but has lost all his color again. I'm not sure what the next step should be.

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 13:08 — Broncomaniac

It sounds like you have bad

It sounds like you have bad water and an uncycled aquarium, or an aquarium that is again cycling due to overstocking. Are you testing? What are the parameters?

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 13:54 — Mopy

Thanks for your response!  I

Thanks for your response!  I have tested the water, just prior to doing the 20% change last Saturday, nitrites and ammonia, were zero.  Nitrates were a little more elevated than I like but not into the danger range.  I did do a 20% change following that and then on Monday after he sunk to the bottom of the tank, I removed the other three fish and did a 90% change.  This morning he's still upright and some of his color is returning again. 

I'm wondering if I have filtration issues as I just noticed the flow from my Fluval 204 is not as strong as normal.  I did do a rinse on the filter a couple weeks ago using water from a tank change, however all seemed well following that.  The three smaller red tails (about 2")  that I added had been in the tank for about 6 weeks before the latest drama began.  At the moment he is the only resident of a 37 gallon tank.

Thanks!

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 20:41 — nlb

I love red tail sharks. I

I love red tail sharks. I don't think they are good companions for your parrot or for eachother in the long term, though. Supposedly they become more antisocial with age. (Just like me.) Hopefully being back in his environment by himself will help your parrot return to his old self. He could have many, many years left.

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 19:42 — Niekomaster

did you set up a bigger tank

did you set up a bigger tank for these guys? it seems that it would a crowded situation for the 3 new fish in with this one. To much waste could create an unhealthy enviroment, you would HAVE to increase your water changes. I really would not have added the 3 new fish in with him considering his age and the possibility of adding sickness. He is prolly too old to fight off the basic yuck that comes with new fish. either set up a bigger tank or seperate tank for the 3 sharks.