Disease

[mopedman]

I have a 20 gallon tall tank. My two convicts died about two months ago of what I thought was ick. I put in the ick tablets and they still died. I then emptied out the water and wiped the walls down with a rag. It sat empty for over a month. A couple of weeks ago I filled it back up. Let it run for a week and bought two fire mouths and two jack dempseys. Well it looks like their skin is deteriorating. I want to say that a small chunk of meat is hanging out of of one of their bellies. Another one sits at the top of the water not moving unless I tap the glass. I thought they had ick as well since I saw white spots on them. I don't know if it is fin rot or a parasite. Any clues? If you need more information I will get back to you. I don't know if I can buy something to kill whatever is in there. Thank you

 

[starrynightxxi]

many fish get ich due to some other stressor lowering their immune system (it's sort of like our common cold, only a parasite rather than a virus). from the sounds of it you are not letting the tank cycle and poor water quality is what is actually killing the fish. There are many posts regarding cycling, but here is one of the pinned topics http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=141944

I don't know much about cichlids but i'm positive that's way too many of them for that tank, let alone a cycling tank. Other members will be able to give you more information but you should check out the fish profiles on the Fish Index board http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=42 that will give you minimum requirements for your fish.

 

[ox5477]

I don't know much about cichlids but i'm positive that's way too many of them for that tank, let alone a cycling tank. Other members will be able to give you more information but you should check out the fish profiles on the Fish Index board http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=42 that will give you minimum requirements for your fish.

100% right starrynightxxi !!!!!! This tank is not big enough for one of these by themselves. Jds need atleast 45G per fish to avoid aggression and firemouths need a little less I think(but im not sure on that one). And if it is ick again, then I would stop going to that store as they can not mantain their fish properly. Ich will die within a few hours out of water so there is no way it could have survived in that tank. So, these fish were already diseased when you bought them.

But there might be another situation.... because they shouldnt be in this tank they are prob attacking eachother and biting eachother. So they prob hurting eachother. Either take them back to the lfs or get a much large tank, atleast 125G......