Jack Dempsey Losing Scales On Head, Is This Normal? Pics Inc

[sarahm]

you can see the darker redish / brown patches on its head where there were scales, is it normal for them to lose scales like this?
at first i presumed it was something to do with it still growing, like a snake loses its skin kinda thing but now im a bit worried
the fish is healthy other than this btw

 

[england]

Hello and welcome, i can't see any scales missing, cichlids change there colours at the drop of the hat, the dark colours with the black band specially across the brow usually indicates stress,maybe another cichlid not getting on or it being nes,or water quality

what size tank do you have and a full stock list

 

[sarahm]

its 230 litres
i have a dominant male gold severum 7-8" but hes not overly agro its mainly feed times he'll show who's boss

and a black shark which is fine with both of them

 

[england]

might just have knocked it on the rock behind or glass at top of tank, it looks good to me,

How long have you had the tank set up for and what other fish are in there, have you seen it scratching around rocks<flicking>??

 

[sarahm]

its 230 litres
i have a dominant male gold severum 7-8" but hes not overly agro its mainly feed times he'll show who's boss

and a black shark which is fine with both of them

no not seen it flicking, that band looks quite red under the light i could have sworn there were scales once there but maybe wrong

 

[england]

from what you discribe and what i can see at a squint

sounds like its probally bumped it on the rock i can see in pic, my snakehead and old oscars have done that a fair few times getting over excited at feeding time, you do know how big a black shark grows?

 

[sarahm]

should be fine then jd looks healthy apart from that

ye the black shark is getting on for 7" absolute beauty, it will be goin in a larger tank when its ready

 

[england]

yes they are stunner's, get aggressive with age and size...

yes obviously keep an eye on the jd and if anyone notices something i have not then listen too them
good luck with the fishe's

check the link

might help abitjack dempsey<not the boxer

 

[forby3]

sarahm both my jd's have the same band on there head as yours

 

[sarahm]

thanks guys much appreciated =)

 

[forby3]

if you look a little down the thread there is a pic of mine i put up and you can compare them hun