Dying fish PLEASE HELP

[Wildfire]

Please I need all you experts to help me... I have a dying C44 and things are not getting better for him. My other chiclids are picking at him and he is now found without any fins... Is there anything I can do do help him survive??? PLEASE RESPOND with any ideas! He is my favorite fish! I hate to see him suffer like that!

 

[Mogo]

My first suggestion would be to move in him into a "hospital" tank. This will prevent any further bullying, and then you can worry about preventing any infections, and deal with any ones that may arrise from his damaged fins/body.

 

[phoenix]

what were his original problems???

 

[Wildfire]

Nothing he was in top shape! All of a sudden one night I get home and it just seems like he got a major beatings from his felliow mates. He seems to be recovoring slowly but since his side fins are all gone he has a hard time swimming and he tends to hide under rocks for cover and he lies on his side. Do you think his fins will grow back. This morninghe seemed to have a boost of energy... I hope he will make it!

 

[gadazobe]

First I'm sorry your first post got missed. Is there any possiblity that you can move him to a hospital tank? If not, try treating the whole tank with melafix. If you don't like using medications, tea tree oil is very good, if fact melafix is based on that. How big is the tank? and what are the water parameters.

 

[Wildfire]

The tank is a 20 gal. The water parameters I could not tell you! For the hospital tank I unfortunatly have no room for a spare tank. I think I'll go pick up some melafix. Will this harm my other fish? For the fins can anyone tell me if they will grow back?

 

[cation]

Could you add a tank divider so he could have a little spot of his own? Then he could try to heal and not get picked on...

 

[sandyd]

If you cant get a devider, you may be able to pick up one of those breeding nets and keep him in there to recover. I would think that the fins would grow back as they do when all of my fish get nipped although i have never kept that kind of fish. If you could get him in one of those nets, he would be able to get a break froma ll of the nipping and may heal quicker. Do you have any idea why they may have attacked him? Is there a breeding pair in you tank that were protecting their young?
Sandy

 

[gadazobe]

Melafix won't harm the rest of the fish - it's based on a natural product. The fins should grow back. Personally I don't like breeding nets, I find that my fish get more stressed out in there than in the tank. If he has a hiding place that he can use without being bothered by the others, he should recover quickly.

 

[Wildfire]

I am sad to say that my fish has passed away. However I am greatful to all of you that tried to help him! It is a sad day! Let him RIP....

 

[gadazobe]

Sorry to hear that and also sorry that we couldn't help

 

[Angry_Platy]

Bye bye little fishie

I too know the pain of losing fish...breaks my heart everytime