My fish is sick (early stage, need help)

[MyFishAteTheCAt]

My fish (7-8inch cichlid) looks sluggish. He's usually very active and swims around tank. But he doesn't look too well today. He's been laying near the bottom or on top of rocks, but not moving around like normal. He has been very sluggish today and there's some new white stuff on him.. the cause of ich or something else??

I don't know what the problem. But I have included several pictures, please let me know if it's Ich or another disease and how to save him. I don't want to see him die. :(

Thank you.

(The Bigger white spots are his normal scale tone, but the smaller white dots just appear. Best picture to see the spots are on pic #2.)


http://b.im.craigslist.org/sr/U7/leFcULcSBCjiGgXcwBYtYV4QXQ9V.jpg


http://b.im.craigslist.org/il/XH/U8HVsV7gTLAQMo5GhPGzqRVgXgkV.jpg


http://b.im.craigslist.org/c4/2A/PJ16qV98YgoPddgyeY0MOAnYKQBz.jpg

[the_dougie]

are the white spots raised like little salt grains? if they are, it could be ick. but also ick tends to make fish real...chippy, bouncing off rocks trying to rub off the parasites. I dont normally buy big fish as i dont have time for a big tank, but if your fish is hearty you could try a salt bath...?

you're best off waiting for more opinions

[Milky]

what temp is your tank at ?
what other fish do you have
with him looks like big fish !! :o :o

[MyFishAteTheCAt]

Water temp: 82-84 Other fishes: Clown Loach, Coryoradas, Catfish

I added more sea salt as some has recommended.

I feel really bad for this guy. It seems to get worst by the hour. I had an albino catfish which died from a disease last week and this cichlid is showing similar symptons. normally he swims around the tank, now he's laying on the tank floor. (not on his side yet) I feel so helpless that I don't know what the problem is or any way to cure this guy better.


Here's more pics. Maybe it would help to identify the problem.

=================================================

http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03461.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03462.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03463.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03464.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03465.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03466.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03467.jpg


http://www.dtkim.com/sillycat/2fish/dsc03468.jpg

[the_dougie]

do a salt BATH. the only medicine i use from any store is aquarisol in my quarantine tank (kills my shrimp in the soon-to-be community tank.) aside from that i dont really know. dont you hate when fish are sick and you have no idea why?

[OrionGirl]

Looks more like velvet than ich.

[MyFishAteTheCAt]

The problem looks to be more and more like velvet. His whole body has the dots now. If the problem is velvet.. what's the best method to cure it?

What I did so far..

1) add more salt
2) raised temp to 85
3) added some fungus/bacteria treatment
4) quick cure for ich (blue dye stuff)

I might be doing too much and poisoning them.... :sad I wish the problem would disappear.

Any feedback/tips is greatly appreciated.

[the_dougie]

but doesnt velvet and ich make your fish bump off rocks and such (theyre also highly contagious so all your fish in the tank would have them by now wouldnt they?)

[Dangerdoll]

I wouldn't suggest mixing treatments either.... otherwise you're overdosing. if you're trying a treatment, you should really follow through on that.... if that doesn't work and the fish is still alive, a water change is needed, then maybe try another treatment but read those bottles carefully.....dosing for different things and mixing the solutions may be doing more harm than good. I know you want the disease controlled but overdoing it will only have adverse effects.

[MyFishAteTheCAt]

Very true. Too many treatments will end up being an overkill.

I'm going to stick with the Quick Cure (active ingred. Formalin and Malachite green) treatment. I'll do a 60% water change tomorrow and hope for the best.

And yes, some of the other fishes are starting to have the same little dots.