Sick apistograma cockatoo

[Hassan 2021]

Hi guys

I have a male apistogramma cockatoo he has been brilliant active and healthy from last 1.5 year. He lives with one angelfish in a 66 litre bow front tank. About 4-5 days ago I noticed he wasn't as active as he use to be he slowly went off his food and started resting at the bottom ever since. I saw him flash a few times when I turned the fish tank light on but haven't seen him flash since then. He has now completely gone off food and sits at the bottom occasionally moves from one end of tank to the other.

I have treated the tank with esha ndx single dose and then did 50% water change. Couple of days later I have treated the tank with esha 2000 and esha gdex today was the second day of the dose tomorrow will be the last day then I am to leave it without any dose and water change on 5th day.

I have attached a couple photos from today and you can see his clear poo a really long stringy poo.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
ph 7.8
Temperature 25

I do 35% water changes weekly.

Any ideas guys?

 

[Naughts]

I think you're on the right lines with the esha treatments for internal parasites. You need to treat both (all?) fish at once. You may want to repeat this in 2 weeks. Have you added anything (fish, plants...) to the tank recently?

The angelfish is a problem in this tank. It needs 200 litres minimum but ideally should be in a shoal in a much bigger tank. It is territorial and may be adding to the apistogramma's stress and causing it to hide.

 

[Hassan 2021]

Hi

Yes I am treating them both even though angel is absolutely fine I decided to treat the whole tank. The only new addition I had in the last month or so were 3 nerite snails which I've moved over to a holding tank as esha 2000 is harmful to them.

Apisto and angel been getting along fine for a pretty long time I do have another 180 litre tank been running for over 3 years I might move him in there some time later.

 

[GaryE]

His belly is a bit sunken, which could suggest age, even if he's only been with you for 1.5 years. Parasites are also possible - a whole range of things are possible. All you can here is educated guesses.