help, sick convict cichlids!

moonstream

moonstream

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Nov 5, 2007
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Jayne
the 6 tiny (1") convict cichlid fries I got yesterday have developed some fungus looking growths... HELP!?!

I measured the water and was horrifyed when I saw that ammonia was about .5, nitrate was about 10 and nitrite is spiking (cant find card to read it, but it isnt too high).

I am going to do a 50% water change now, add in some more aquarium salt and add in a few more hiding places and plants, hopfully everything will go down soon, and they will be okay.

would a low saliinity (1.018) 2-4 min. bath be okay? I would monitor then closely. any help?
 
I would think that a low salinity bath would be alright... many times while transporting freshwater fish, culturists will add a small amount of salt to reduce the amount of work the fish have to do to osmoregulate. As for the water quality, there is really not much you can do except reduce or stop feeding. don't do too many water exchanges, as the high ammonia actually induces a lot of good bacterial growth. if the fish can stand it, try to ride it out. Also, if you have some gravel or a filter that is broken in from another tank, you could add it to this tank to "seed" the bacterial colonization.
 
Oh, as for the fungus, there are some good antifungals out there, last time my fish got a small funus spot, i bought some nitrofurazone everescent tablets that worked really well.
 
is this another "experiment"?
 
yes, this is an experiment, though I do plan to keep some of these guys (any pairs I get from them).

I am using the salt (aquarium salt) because I have heard that it will help with fungal diseases, and because it is soothing to the fish.

I am also noting some ich looking spots, I will raise the temp to 84 tomorrow, and do another waterchange. hopefully they will be better soon. will do a low salinity SW bath soon. thanks for the help so far! other then the slight diesease they seem fine, some clamped fins and unactive fish but other then that they seem to be fine.
 
so other than the fungus, exposure to ammonia and nitrite, clamped fins, possible ich, and hiding in a corner, they're "fine"? that's like saying a guy with a broken leg, trouble breathing, and bleeding from the head is "fine", because he's just not dead yet.

salt is the opposite of soothing, it works by irritating the fish's skin so that it develops a thicker slime coat. it's the thicker layer of slime coating that initially protects against disease. it's the equivalent of you getting a callous on your finger - it eventually protects you from constant irritation, but it's irritation that put it there in the first place.
 
wataugachicken, chill. I am doing my best and trying to get these guys through this okay. I thought the tank was cyled, and am doing all I can to keep them healthy and alive.

I know that I am an idiot, and I already feel bad, no need to make me feel worse for something I am trying to fix. also, you seem fixated around the fact this is an experiment and seem to think that I dont care about these fish just as much as the fish I have had for several years. I have meds on hand if I need them, and I am willing to do all I can to keep them healthy.

they look much better after the salt bath, and I will keep doing large water changes until the ammonia is gone. any more help would be greatly appreciated tho!
 
Really, though, you should try to refrain from doing too large of water changes. the only way you will get nitrifying bacteria to grow is to supply the little buggers with enough food to grow... if you keep doing large water changes, they won't get the nutrients they need to establish a good colony. 0.5ppm ammonia is really not that bad, 1.0ppm is when you should start freaking. add some antifungal treatment, and some salt, but don't do too many water changes!
 
bacteria can grow and thrive with just trace amounts of ammonia - which is constantly being released into the water. Fish on the other hand start showing negative effects at just .25ppm. Even if the cycle takes longer overall (which it really shouldn't), it's better to keep ammonia and nitrite levels as low as possible because fish will carry the damage for the rest of their lives.

You're right, moonstream, i am being a little hard on you. It's because we are seeing the same thing differently. From my point of view you are just using these fish, while when i buy a fish it's to give it a forever home. I'm not a big fan of buying fish when the intention is to eventually just get rid of all or some of them later. To me they are like an adopted cat or dog and they deserve the same long-term commitment. Not everyone here feels that way, but I do.
 
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