Brown Spots On Malawi Cichlids

[j.jarman]

Hi, well all the info i can provide to start with:

tank size : 120 us gal
setup : 3-4 months
Ammonia :0ppm
Nitrite :0ppm
Nitrate : 10-20ppm
temp : 26 degrees C
pH : 8.2 - 8.4

I use seachem prime for dechlorination
feed them almost exclusively NLS with some occasional vegetables

The problem - the fish have developed brown spots over a period of months. I thought it may be spots from food, but i now don't think it is. This is because i recently purchased some socolofi. I kept them in a separate tank for about two weeks and fed them exactly the same stuff and they had no spots. I put them in my main tank and within 24 hrs they have brown spots on their face. All the spots on the fish seem to be concentrated around the face.

Pics below:

Any more info i need to provide and i will. All i can think of is that the eheim 2080 filter i am using was bought second hand, and wasn't on a particularly clean tank. I'm also using a nitrate and 25w UV filter.

Thanks for any help in advance!

James

 

[WILDER]

Are they defianately brown spots and not black.

Any signs of flicking and rubbing.
Do you have any smails in the tank.

 

[j.jarman]

The fish seem perfectly comfotable, no flicking.

There ARE some small snails in the tank, they came in with some java moss i bought.

 

[WILDER]

You need to take a look here then as spots can be brown as well as black.

Black Spot



Symptoms:

Your fish will have small black spots measuring about 2 millimeters in diameter. These can be found anywhere on the fish�s body and fins. Cysts may be found in the internal organs. It is typical for African Cichlids, however, to constantly have little black spots, especially around their mouths. These black spots should not be mistaken for "Black Spot." These are scabs, which have resulted from digging in the gravel or from fighting.



Cause:

Larvae of parasitic digenetic flukes, Cercaria and Metacercaria. The spots seen contain larval stages of digenetic flukes. The life cycle of these parasitic flukes begins when fish-eating birds and other animals ingest fish infected with the parasites. Once ingested the parasites mature in the intestines of the host animal where they produce eggs. The eggs are then deposited into the water where they hatch and infect the livers of aquatic snails. The parasites then develop into a second and then third larval stage before leaving the snail to seek out a fish host. This type of parasitic infestation is most common in wild caught fish and pond fish.



Treatment:

Remove all snails from the aquarium or pond to end the cycle of infection. Treatment is rarely necessary and can be difficult if not impossible. Minor infestations may clear without treatment as the larvae will eventually die and be absorbed by the host's immune responses. Copper Sulfate may be helpful in severe cases.

 

[j.jarman]

they look more brown to me on the esterae, but on the dems, they could look black.

They are also more like "patches" rather than spots on some of the fish now

 

[WILDER]

I would remove the smails from the tank.

Black patches can be fighting wounds, digging wounds, ammonia burns that are healing.
Brown patches can be columaris, velvet.

Black Patches



Symptoms:

Black patches, smudges, smears, spots or markings that suddenly appear and are not natural colorings.



Cause:

These markings are the result of skin cell damage. Black markings often appear in areas where the skin has been damaged by ammonia burns, bacterial infections, parasitic infestations, and injuries. These markings are often seen on fish just after a new tank has completed �cycling,� due to the high ammonia levels. These marks are also common in African Cichlids, especially around the mouth. These are scabs that have come from digging in the gravel or from fighting.



Treatment:

No treatment is necessary. Much like scabs, the blackened areas are a sign that the healing process has already begun. Keep water in top condition and the areas will gradually fade in less than a couple of weeks.

 

[j.jarman]

I don't know how i can be sure that all snails are gone from the aquarium. There are millions of places for them to hide

 

[WILDER]

Steralise a pop bottle in boiling water.
Add some lettuce. Keep removing the snails from the bottle.
Weigh the bottle down by burying in substrate.
Or a rubber band and plant weight.