yellow lab cichlid help needed

[a_ellis]

my yellow lab cichlid has not been eating for about a week.....she is the only one in the tank that seems to have a problem. she is keeping only one fin clamped (the right side fin), crashing on the bottom, & trying to stay to herself.
i need help and don't know where to begin with her.
pH is normal
just did a 50% water change 2 days ago (after she started having problems)

 

[semper fi]

what are the water parameters? is she breathing heavy? i would atleast move her to a hospital tank or a breeding net. in her condition she could be picked on by other tankmates. if you do move her to a hospital tank, i would add aquarium salt to the tank. one tablespoon for every five gallons of water.

 

[a_ellis]

i would say that she appears to be breathing heavy.....i don't know why but now she is using her right side fin that she had clamped before. is this a good sign? she was crashing on the bottom last night, now she is at least staying afloat and doesn't have clamped fins.........but, she still isn't quite right.
would you still recommend moving her to another tank? she may not survive the stress! suggestions needed.

 

[appleblossom]

I think being moved to a tank where she would be safe and could be treated more efficiently would be far less teh stress of staying in the tank she is in now and getting picked on and not so well cared for....

If you have the facilities, move her.

 

[semper fi]

yes, appleblossom is right. stress can be caused by different things. one being environmental. stress is the contributing factor in fish loss.

what else is in the tank with her? usually both fins are clamped. could possibly be that the one clamped fin is an indication that she was hit on that side by a more aggressive fish. yellow lab cichlids are very peaceful and should be kept with like aggression fish.

adding salt to the rest of the tank won't hurt any other scaled fish. scaleless fish though could be burned by high levels of salt. usually fish that are sick or injured are moved to a hospital tank to 1. prevent stress 2. avoiding medicating healthy fish and 3. to lower the amount of meds used.

would still reccomend moving the fish and adding salt to the tank.

 

[a_ellis]

i really don't have anywhere else to put her.......see my tank stats......i've got heaters ordered and on the way for my 2 10 gal tanks but they're not here yet, if she's still stressed by mon. i'll move her to the 10 gal by herself, up the pH, & put the guppies all together.
thanks semper fi & appleblossom