I Think My Fish Are Sick

[Darkstar356]

Hello
I just set up a canister filter rated for 175 gallon tank for my 125 tank. Shortly, after I set it up my cichlids are acting funny 3 of them will swim toward the ground turn on there side and run along the ground. I have watched them for a week doing this. All my water levels are good and there are not signs of the ick, fin rot or anything else wrong with them. I also have barbs in the same tank that are running in to the ground. So do any of you know what is going on with my fish?

 

[SikkAquariums]

Hello
I just set up a canister filter rated for 175 gallon tank for my 125 tank. Shortly, after I set it up my cichlids are acting funny 3 of them will swim toward the ground turn on there side and run along the ground. I have watched them for a week doing this. All my water levels are good and there are not signs of the ick, fin rot or anything else wrong with them. I also have barbs in the same tank that are running in to the ground. So do any of you know what is going on with my fish?

Stupid question, but did you already have it cycled? forget to add dechlorinator?

 

[Darkstar356]

yes it is cycled and when i do a water change i add Stress coat and Stress Enzyme

 

[SikkAquariums]

All I can think of is to keep a close eye on them the next couple of days, and work with about 10-15% water changes in the mean time. If all else fails, i recommend a "general cure" for illness at the LFS or apparently petsmart has it as well. Dr Foster & smiths has it online as well.

 

[some thing fishy]

Have a close look at them,it could be Velvet ,if so that could be why they are swimming along the gravel ,they are trying to scratch themselves,,you may need a magnifying glass if your eyes are not to good,Velvet will present inself as a very fine gold dusting which can be hard to see in its early stages,if it is Velvet ,you will need a copper based medication to treat it.

 

[eggo]

Hello
I just set up a canister filter rated for 175 gallon tank for my 125 tank. Shortly, after I set it up my cichlids are acting funny 3 of them will swim toward the ground turn on there side and run along the ground. I have watched them for a week doing this. All my water levels are good and there are not signs of the ick, fin rot or anything else wrong with them. I also have barbs in the same tank that are running in to the ground. So do any of you know what is going on with my fish?

When you see other freshwater and saltwater fish rubbing and scratching themselves against rocks, wood, plants, gravel, or anything hard, you can pretty much count your unlucky stars because your fish most likely has a parasite. Fish will scratch themselves, trying to remove the source of the irritation. When African Cichlids scratch themselves, another irritation is at play. I have seen African Cichlids at all ages scratch themselves, even a few hours after being released from their mother's buccal cavity, and never have I lost one of these fish to a parasite. What causes them to scratch is usually due to improper water conditions or their being introduced to water with a different set of properties.

African Cichlids require very hard water, on the order of a KH of 14 to 17. Unless the water has a natural buffer, the minerals that make the water hard, will "fall out," or precipitate out in about a week's time. If that happens, your water will slowly become softer than is ideal. This is the number one cause for an African Cichlid's scratching. The second most common is following a drastic water change with a change in temperature, pH, or hardness. Even if you are restoring the water to an ideal pH or hardness, you will observe an increase in scratching for the first hour after the water change. That is because they are having to adjust to the new osmolarity. Their skin will be irritated and their scratching is in attempt to alleviate that discomfort. Ironically, if the water conditions are not brought within ideal ranges and the scratching is allowed to continue, they will scratch their scales right off. Wounds like this often lead to an infection, and if left untreated, death. So, if you find your fish scratching heavily, check your pH and hardness.

 

[gregswimm]

Give us the names of the species you have, the ammonia level, nitrite level, nitrate level, dKH, dGH, temperature, what are you adding to the water,and water change schedule? Rubbing is usually a sign of parasites and or osmotic stress caused by a change in the level of dissolved solids. A KH of 7-12 is sufficient for Tanganyika and other rift lake cichlids. In all my experience as long as your KH (carbonate hardness) is above 6dKG and PH above 7.8 you are fine; just make sure you keep it CONSISTENT, this is the key to keeping them happy and healthy.