Pink Convict Problem

I need help... I have a 5 year established community of 6 pink convicts and 3 large silver dollars... Very peaceful, no fighting but for the last two weeks one convict has stopped swimming and just sits on the bottom of the tank. Now a large male convict does the same. When it's feeding time they swim up but with great effort then sink to the bottom like a rock. The smaller convict's belly is large. Is it possible they have swallowed some gravel, or are they sick. I'm worried about them, they are kind of like family. Thanks in advance for the help.

I'm sorry mods I did not mean to post so many times iPhone was jacked up

Please fill this out to help us help you;

Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):



Also, what have you been feeding, and how often? No problem with the multiple posts, quick & easy fix.

Tank size: 56 gallon column style
pH: 6.6 - 6.8
ammonia: not sure
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 35-40
kH: 60-80
gH: 75
tank temp: 78.7 F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): For the past three weeks one smaller convict has just sat (actually on the rocks) on the bottom. Three days ago a large convict started doing the same. They both feed but struggle greatly to reach the middle of the tank, then sink like a rock. (one small convict, one large, colors look normal and no apparent lesions, location for small bottom right corner by med plant, large convict is generally towards the back middle area, both in the open not under cover) The large convict i assume is male has always been the alpha but now does not defend anything

Volume and Frequency of water changes: last full change was 3 months ago, 30% every month

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitants: 6 pink convicts (2.5-5") 3 silver dollars (6-6.5") 1 plecco (8-9")

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): none

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible):trying to figure that out

Seems like you've got way too many convict cichlids in that tank if it's column style, which I believe is only 30 inches long, 18 inches wide, 24 inches tall. convicts tend to stay near the bottom of the tank, and are very aggressive and territorial. The two that are having problems and lethargy may be victims of bullying or being chased around the tank. With cichlids, and most fish for that matter, the footprint of the tank is what matters most (your footprint being only 30"x18"), not the tank volume, so in honesty, a lot of that height on your tank is wasted space.

Under the idea bullying isn't the issue, do the fish seem to rub or flick on the gravel or decor at all?

One was the alpha so I know it isn't bullying, they all have been in the same tank for years... No rubbing or flicking, just lying there, I thought maybe pregnantcy but the small one has been like this for three weeks now...

Snizzlefish said:

One was the alpha so I know it isn't bullying, they all have been in the same tank for years... No rubbing or flicking, just lying there, I thought maybe pregnantcy but the small one has been like this for three weeks now...

Click to expand...

If any of them were breeding, you'd have a pair of convicts annihilating every fish in the tank that moved, including the pleco and silver dollars. So I'd disregard any ideas of breeding.

With all the aggressive fish in the tank, there is going to be a pretty consistent level of stress among the fish, though African Cichlids do better with an overstocking of their own kind, most Central and South American cichlids do not.

With your tank, I'd honestly say 1 convict is good, 2 cutting it. They'll want to claim their own parts of the tank, and they can't do that with so many others competing for territory. They might have just finally had it after the years of competition.

Under the impression of you thinking of them being pregnant, are they fattened or bloated looking at all? That may be a sign of internal parasites.

onidrase said:

Snizzlefish said:

One was the alpha so I know it isn't bullying, they all have been in the same tank for years... No rubbing or flicking, just lying there, I thought maybe pregnantcy but the small one has been like this for three weeks now...

Click to expand...

If any of them were breeding, you'd have a pair of convicts annihilating every fish in the tank that moved, including the pleco and silver dollars. So I'd disregard any ideas of breeding.

With all the aggressive fish in the tank, there is going to be a pretty consistent level of stress among the fish, though African Cichlids do better with an overstocking of their own kind, most Central and South American cichlids do not.

With your tank, I'd honestly say 1 convict is good, 2 cutting it. They'll want to claim their own parts of the tank, and they can't do that with so many others competing for territory. They might have just finally had it after the years of competition.

Under the impression of you thinking of them being pregnant, are they fattened or bloated looking at all? That may be a sign of internal parasites.

Click to expand...

They have breeder several times, and it's been around five years I believe. The one is bloated a bit, would internal parasites affect their ability to swim, can it spread and if this is the case, what are the steps to treating such a case. It's been three weeks for the one and a week for the other. They all have their territory and I have never seen a physical fight( not even durning the time of when babies were present)

Snizzlefish said:

onidrase said:

Snizzlefish said:

One was the alpha so I know it isn't bullying, they all have been in the same tank for years... No rubbing or flicking, just lying there, I thought maybe pregnantcy but the small one has been like this for three weeks now...

Click to expand...

If any of them were breeding, you'd have a pair of convicts annihilating every fish in the tank that moved, including the pleco and silver dollars. So I'd disregard any ideas of breeding.

With all the aggressive fish in the tank, there is going to be a pretty consistent level of stress among the fish, though African Cichlids do better with an overstocking of their own kind, most Central and South American cichlids do not.

With your tank, I'd honestly say 1 convict is good, 2 cutting it. They'll want to claim their own parts of the tank, and they can't do that with so many others competing for territory. They might have just finally had it after the years of competition.

Under the impression of you thinking of them being pregnant, are they fattened or bloated looking at all? That may be a sign of internal parasites.

Click to expand...

They have breeder several times, and it's been around five years I believe. The one is bloated a bit, would internal parasites affect their ability to swim, can it spread and if this is the case, what are the steps to treating such a case. It's been three weeks for the one and a week for the other. They all have their territory and I have never seen a physical fight( not even durning the time of when babies were present)

Click to expand...

This is definitely unfamiliar territory for me, having so many convicts in 1 tank, that is. From my research and experience, I'm surprised things work out in such a matter with the small tank size.

However, if the fish have internal parasites, they'll have white stringy poo, and a bloated belly. It can be contagious, but not as contagious as external parasites or fungal and bacterial diseases. There should be medications in the common pet stores for treating it.

If you've had every convict in the tank for 5 years, though, I'd not rule out that they're just getting old, it might just be their time. They can live for much longer than 5 year yes, but that's not a guarantee. Some can live much less than that. that's a pretty good amount of time, though.

A lot of things will cause fish to act lethargic, so when lethargy is the only shown symptom, diagnoses is nearly impossible.

Thank you for your knowledge my friend, I think I will ride it out a bit longer to see if any new symptoms arise. Not sure whatelse to do

Usually laying on the bottom like that is swimbladder disease. Unfortunately its nearly impossible to cure and even if you do permanent damage may be done.

I had my 2 pair of pink convicts in a 4ft tank. I don't know how you got away without aggression! When one pair would spawn at one end of the tank, the other pair, one would distract the parents and the other one would go steal the babies and put them under their rock. It was pretty funny to watch.