Female Green Terror In Trouble?

[JMatthew]

I adopted a pair of Green Terrors several weeks ago from an individual who had been keeping them in an African Cichlid tank. They had been nipped up pretty badly but, had still attempted to spawn twice by his report only to have their eggs eaten by the Mbuna. I currently have them housed all alone in a 40 gallon tank. Their fins had begun to return to normal - both of there tail fins had nearly a full crest of orange and their dorsal fins were showing a hint. The female spawned and for the first time for her the babies hatched. However, something happened and the babies disappeared (died, eaten, something...).

Since then the female has been bahaving much less boitrous than she normally does. She mostly seems to hang out in corners, often with her face slightly pointed downward and sometimes resting on the substrate. Yesterday I noticed he fins did not look very good again. While the males fins are still healing and getting better every day, he fins are looking ratty and terrible. Her tail fin has little to no orange. Her pectoral fins are looknig VERY ratty - no roundless whatsoever!

The male is bumping her a little sometimes - ready for more eggs, I suppose - but he isn't chasing her to much and I have never seen him nip a fin no matter how long I have watched.

Her are the tank current stats. I do my water changes every Friday or Saturday. I keep close records on my tanks and the readings were about the same during the last water change and I did a 25% (10 gallon) water change.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0.25
Nitrates - Barely above 0
pH 7.8 (naturally high here)

Here are a couple of pictures of her. The first is her a few days ago while her fry was alive. I was actually shooting for the fry (below her - that's not dirt) and got a good deal of her. Look as closely as you can at her fins (perhaps you can blow up the picture somehow). The second picture is her just a few minutes ago.

Thanks in advance!

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like she might have a bacterial infection.

What does it look like when she goes to the toilet.
Can you issolate her and use a bacterial med.

Also immediate water change and increase aeration.
What caused the nitrite reading. Or does you test kit go from 0.25

 

[JMatthew]

It's an API Chemical kit - the lowest reading it gives is .25.

Ugh - my hosipital tank currently has two Rusty Cichlids which were waiting for me to finish getting my 90 gallon up. The 90 Gallon is cycled but, I have no decor in there - no gravel, rock work - nothing. The Rustys are 4 and 5 inches and I just paid $30 for them last week so I don't want to risk them but, do you think I could move them over if I at least put in a little rock work so I could get her in the hospital tank?

What if I spread a little bit of gravel in a corner of 90 Gallon with some rock work - do you think this will be enough to put them at ease?


hhhmmm...

 

[holidayinn]

Could be the male ready to breed again but the female isn't, so she's getting a pasting. Jsut a possibility...

 

[JMatthew]

If so, should I look at isolating her and letting her recover a for about a week or will she just (I hate to say), "Get over it?"

 

[WILDER]

I would treat her with a bacterial med as she showing some bacterial signs,. Like resting on the bottom, being pale.

 

[JMatthew]

Alright - I ran home at lunch, made a little nook of the 90 Gallon for the Rustys to maintain in with a some gravel and the stones they where already used to in the hospital tank. Moved her over to the hospital tank. Still looking for anymore suggestion however, barring anything better I will look at dosing tank when I get home tonight.

 

[WILDER]

If only one fish is sick its best to issolate.
She dosn't sound right to me. Never kept cichlids but what do your instincts tell you.
Once bacterial infections advance there hard to cure.

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

 

[JMatthew]

If only one fish is sick its best to issolate.
She dosn't sound right to me. Never kept cichlids but what do your instincts tell you.
Once bacterial infections advance there hard to cure.

The third type of infection produced by Aeromonas is by no means the least. This form is often the most virulent (potent) and can be rapidly fatal. This insidious form does not produce any noticeable external ulcers. The most notable feature is a behavioral change in which the infected fish generally become listless and lethargic. Some fish may lose color or appear darker. The fish do not feed, frequently seem off balance and may sink to the bottom laying on their sides. The course of the disease is rapid, and by the time the behavioral changes are noticed, the entire population of a tank may succumb, sometimes in a day or so. This is an internal infection, with the bacteria being found in the kidneys and blood of these fish. The bacteria produce potent toxins that account for the severity of the disease.

Well, she isn't eating as well as the male, that's for sure. However, she has been grabbing pellets right in front of her, though I'm not sure if she finishes them. She has been keeping to one of two corners and sticking her face in them and not moving for hours. However, when I went to catch her at lunch to move her to the hospital tank she put up a REAL fight. When I was carrying her to the hospital tank in the fish cuppy thingy he was TICKED OFF, splashing like she wanted to bit my head off. This has been normal, loveable, murderous behavior for her up to this point - lol!

 

[WILDER]

All I can suggest it trying a bacterial med.
Good Luck.