Help! Geophagus Cichlid is Not Eating or Swimming!

[seanus]

Hello.

After introducing a tadpole that had a parasite, he killed off all of the fish in my tank within 10 days , except the Geophagus Cichlid and the dalmation molly.

The cichlid was nipping at the molly for a few days & had been swimming a lot recently, but now he's hiding in the back & isn't really eating. The molly was dead when I came home from work this afternoon

I have been overfeeding a bit & just changed 30% of the water & graveled the rocks. I do this 1-2 times per week & just checked the water -- it's fine.

There is a kind of dark algae (almost black) building up on the fake plants. Is that normal?

What should I do to help the cichlid. He looks a little itchy (and was rubbing on the rocks sideways a little earlier). I administered IckCure for two days last week, but he still rubs around.

Please help! Thanks.

(this is a picture of a fish that looks EXACTLY like him -- please help me save him. He's my oldest fish (1 year)). Thank you

 

[Kiarra]

Does he look like he has ich on him? Or velvet, maybe?

 

[seanus]

There are no unusual signs...I don't see any white spots. I've heard velvet is very difficult to detect (rusty coloring). I don't see anything really wrong, but I know it's a parasite of some variety...what should i do?

Thank you.

 

[WILDER]

Do you have a med called clout as thats good for a lot of parasites, so it jungle parasite meds.

 

[seanus]

Thanks, Wilder, for another helpful reply.

I don't have "Clout" but will be happy to pick some up if that will be my best bet. The fish (Ralph) has not been eating for 2-3 days now. He was swimming after I turned the light on last night, but 95% of the time, just sits on the bottom & this morning he seems to be gasping a little more than usual.

I changed the water two days ago. Would you recommend adding the clout tonight? I assume I will need to remove the carbon filter... I don't want the meds to hurt him, but he doesn't seem to be getting any better on his own.

I really appreciate it!

 

[WILDER]

Yes get the med in a soon as possible as parasites soon multiply, also turn temp up as it will speed the cycle up of the parasite, can't remember what fish you have, but if you have no scaless fish add some salt to the tank as parasites hate salt, good luck.

 

[seanus]

RIP Ralph. The medication must have been applied too late (2 days after he stopped eating)...That damn tadpole killed off every fish in my tank, despite the fact that the water and filtration are perfect...$%#*ing parasites.

Now it's empty

Thanks for the advice, though, I know it will help me to monitor parasites even better in the future.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss, i had ntd and not one survived in mine so no how you feel.

 

[seanus]

Thanks, Wilder.

You really deserve a medal or something for all the free advice you give on this site.

Just out of curiosity, what is 'ntd'? Some form of parasite I assume?

Thanks,
S

 

[WILDER]

Thanks, just care about the fish and i find them fasinating little things, always thought fish were boring, how wrong i was, ntd neon tetra desease yes it's a parasite.
http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/neondisease.htm

 

[AngelOfDeath]

that crafty tadpole, this was his plan all along!!

lol..

Sorry for your loss, i know how you feel, I will have to euthanise my goldfish as a result of parasites

 

[Prudence]

Hi had a friend who feed tadpole to his fish. All his fish got anchor worms.They attach themself to the the fish around the fins and face. Dose your fish have white/opaque tiny strings hanging of him.If so you can put sea salt in the water or another solution some kind of tablets.Look up the net Anchor worms.
GOOD LUCK