Poorly Cichlid

[Xaviersmum]

My cichlid has been unwell for some weeks now. We thought he was going the right way as he has been eating and toileting ok, and his colur was high. He had gradually lost his bouyancy over a period of weeks, and developed a cyst now cysts on one of his pectoral fins. He spent a few weeks mainly on the bottom of the tank upright only swimming for food and to attack the silver sharks and other cichlid. Then yesterday he suddenly lost the ability to be upright and is laying on the bottom of the tank on his side. We were told to putting him to sleep by the fish shop but we want to ask first if any one can help as we want to save him if we can. We have done everything advise, and the nitartes in the tank have reduced, we have added vitamins, we have put Melafix x 2 lots of 7 days in the tank, but he has got progressively worse in terms of his position in the tank. We tried to move him onto the tank bottom yestreday as he fell on the gravel and it scratches him. He has preferred a clear piece of tank bottom over the past weeks since he has been on the bottom. I know many may think to let him go but he still wants to eat and when we tried to move him yesterday he did swim but as soon as he stopped fell to the bottom where he tried to keep upright but again fell to one side. PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS, he has been unwell since the end of November but he has eaten up until tuesday. We just want to save him if we can as he is our baby.

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

what kind of cichlid? it doesnt sound good to me. one of the main ativities of a fish is swimming and if he isnt doing that then it doesnt look good. cysts?

i could be totally off the mark but it doesnt sound good, and sometimes its better just to know when to let go, i think.

 

[Xaviersmum]

what kind of cichlid? it doesnt sound good to me. one of the main ativities of a fish is swimming and if he isnt doing that then it doesnt look good. cysts?

i could be totally off the mark but it doesnt sound good, and sometimes its better just to know when to let go, i think.

hi

he is an acarichthys heckelii about 4 years old. The cysts look like lymphocystic and started to develop a few days before he started to loose bouyancy. We have added the medicine etc, but he just has got worse, the fish shop we go to doesnt know what is wrong they said to keep treating with Melafix, I even took pictures in, someone said to add salt, not sure as they said could upset other fish. Sorry I know perhaps I should give up but if I can do anything to help him I want to, I just wish someone could help with what has happended to him, I feel so responsible. We dont think we can kill him, he watches us all the time and is so big. He is very peaceful laying there his colour is good and breathing slow. Sorry we have been involved with fish keeping for 3 years and he was our first cichlid and we are soooooooo attached to him, he is like one of the cats!!!

 

[sharkbaitwoohaha]

they are a beautiful fish. i dont really know too much about the cysts but i dont reckon melafix would have much effect.
you shouldnt feel responsible cos its probably got nothing to do with you. its bloody hard isnt it when your attached cos its different to when a dog or cat is ill cos you feel a bit helpless.
i hope someone can offer youa better explanation. ill just hope everything turns out ok, and keep my fingers crossed.

 

[black angel]

How big is his tank?
Ive just had to google the fish as ive never heard of it but he is a beautiful looking fish.
Can you get a photo on the forum of him so we can see these cysts?
Have they appeared slowly or quite quickly.?
I agree as well that melafix isnt going to work and he may have a bacterial or viral infection of his swim bladder.
What do you feed him?

 

[Xaviersmum]

How big is his tank?
Ive just had to google the fish as ive never heard of it but he is a beautiful looking fish.
Can you get a photo on the forum of him so we can see these cysts?
Have they appeared slowly or quite quickly.?
I agree as well that melafix isnt going to work and he may have a bacterial or viral infection of his swim bladder.
What do you feed him?

Hi

The tank was 300 litres, but we have just moved him to a 25 litre tank to be on his own as he was looking very unhappy. The cysts have happened very quick, first one about 4 weeks ago and now they are a cluster on his fin and he is laying on the other side.
Up until he wasnt well he was eating a mix of dry food, live blood worm once a month, cichlid diet and blood worm (frozen). Up until two nights ago he was still attacking the other fish (we have 3 large silver sharks and another cichlid), he was in charge of the tank. We have spoken to a vet tonight who said that they may be able to remove the cysts but I dont think he is up to travel. We have moved him and put vitamin mix in the tank with him.

I have attached a picture taken yesterday - the cysts are like warts, sort of raspberry like, they are lymphocystis like. They have grown very fast and seem to have made him more disabled and less able to move.

I have also attached a picture of him showing how beautiful he is............. Gosh dont you feel helpless when they are poorly, I just want to give him a cuddle!!

Thanks for replying.

they are a beautiful fish. i dont really know too much about the cysts but i dont reckon melafix would have much effect.
you shouldnt feel responsible cos its probably got nothing to do with you. its bloody hard isnt it when your attached cos its different to when a dog or cat is ill cos you feel a bit helpless.
i hope someone can offer youa better explanation. ill just hope everything turns out ok, and keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks - I have posted some pics of him - he is very beautiful, we have just moved him and he is usually a fighter but he didnt move in the net at all, its all soooooooooo sad! Thanks again for your words.

 

[Breeze7050]

Wow, he really is gorgeous! It doesn't sound very good for the poor guy.
If you can't take him to the vet have you thought about euthanasia - so he doesn't suffer. I would not push that on anyone and it is totally your call of course, but just thought I'd toss the idea out there. He looks pretty bad in that picture. So sorry for you.

 

[black angel]

He doesnt look good does he. He looks a lot darker in colour than normal but that might be the stress. The lumps are pink? Are they smooth or lumpy?
His poo, is it normal or has it changed colour, stringy at all?
When fish lie over its due to the swimbladder so it may be a viral infection thats causing the problem.
As the vet said he could look at the lumps for you I would take him in anyway and see if he could give him an antibiotic or something

If it is Lymphosistis then there isnt a cure im afraid.

 

[Xaviersmum]

Wow, he really is gorgeous! It doesn't sound very good for the poor guy.
If you can't take him to the vet have you thought about euthanasia - so he doesn't suffer. I would not push that on anyone and it is totally your call of course, but just thought I'd toss the idea out there. He looks pretty bad in that picture. So sorry for you.

Have thought about euthanasia =but really not sure how, read so many things about all the methods and I cant bear the thought, if it goes towards that way I hope he goes without aid!! We have been told clove oil is best!?!

He is beautiful - and he has loads of personality and watches you and did dance with you, if you played musc and danced in front of the tank he danced too!!! All too sad!

He doesnt look good does he. He looks a lot darker in colour than normal but that might be the stress. The lumps are pink? Are they smooth or lumpy?
His poo, is it normal or has it changed colour, stringy at all?
When fish lie over its due to the swimbladder so it may be a viral infection thats causing the problem.
As the vet said he could look at the lumps for you I would take him in anyway and see if he could give him an antibiotic or something

If it is Lymphosistis then there isnt a cure im afraid.

No not looking good. The lumps are pink and dark pink and are lumpy, but started smooth. Poo is dark and normal. We have decided that if he is still with us at the weekend, next time fish vet available, we are going to take him anyway....................

 

[black angel]

To be honest he might not make it that long. I would ring the sugery and see if you can get an emergency appointment with someone who has some knowledge of fish disease.

 

[Breeze7050]

So sad, I agree with Black angel if that is a possibility. If you do a search on euthanasia here on the forum you will find all kinds of different ideas/ways - what works, what doesn't. I think that one really is a matter of opinion, but there are available threads on the subject should it come to that.
Again, so sorry for you!

 

[WILDER]

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/manage...mphocystis.html

 

[Xaviersmum]

Thank you all for your comments andthoughts I will ring vet tomorrow but they dont seem very accommodating or available or many, I cant believe that there are so few vets for fish. We have the choice of one 1 hour 10 mins away who seems to know what they are doing, one that will have a go!!! and one that is available next Monday. Crazy when we get so attached to them and they give us so much!

Anyway my Xavier I think is near the end, he as deterioated a lot today, many tears and wine. We are still trying we have tried to feed him but to no avail, unfortunately he does not understand what we are trying to do, but then nor do we.

So thank you all for your help and understanding of how we feel.

We will not give up until we have to. I will keep you informed and if you want a fatastic type of fish this is the type to have he is still a great fish who has given us lots and lots................

 

[WILDER]

Good luck.

 

[kribensis12]

I think that the vet is the best choice. But before hand, I wouuld try to pop the cysts( I know he will be in alot of pain but if it works no vet or pain). But still the vets will know what they are doing. If I were you I would try some mararyn 2 or any type of Mardel Product. They are one of the best brands for fishie medicine. I am so sorry for him, and you. Best of luck.