Need Help!! Beaten Up Cichlids

[volcomstone]

A couple of my Cichlids got at it with each other a few days since I introduced themall to a new tank. So far I've been able to seperate all 3 of them (2 festae's and a Jag). So far I've been treating all 3 of them w/ melafix to heal up their damage scales and fins.

Unfortunately, for 1 of the fishes, it that doesn't look too good and I've noticed two things:

1) On his damaged pectoral fin, there seems to be some type of fungus or white dot looking thing around the base of the fin. It so far doesn't look like ich (I've seen ich before)

2) On his right eye, there seems to be a also a white looking thing that's hanging out on the top. It almost like it was some sort of spec that was in the water and landed on this eye. Also, it almost looks like a worm or some time of parasite hanging out in same location of his eye. I could probably pull it if I wanted to (of course i won't do that). However, it's been there for the last 2 days so I'm think it is something more serious than that! I'm thinking he had an eye injury which may have got worse.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm dealing with here and how to treat it. Initially I thought I was just going to be treating for damaged/missing scales and torn fins. However, it seems that for 1 of fishes, the damages are little more severe. I'm trying to take pictures but I have been unsuccessful in taking some. I'll keep trying. Please help!

 

[ibr3ak]

I've recently got about 8 mbuna that have all had some type of fungul growth on their fins and tails (little fuzzy spots, not ich), have tried treating them with maracyn I and II (chose that over melafix pimafix first, because of a bunch of good reviews and the meds being more potent) neither of them helped, fish still had the fungus on them, not as severe but it was there. Later I've decided to try a combo of melafix and pimafix just for the hell of it, done the whole 7 day cycle and it cleared up completely around day 5 of treatment.

I'd suggest getting pimafix and treating them in addition to melafix.

 

[volcomstone]

I've recently got about 8 mbuna that have all had some type of fungul growth on their fins and tails (little fuzzy spots, not ich), have tried treating them with maracyn I and II (chose that over melafix pimafix first, because of a bunch of good reviews and the meds being more potent) neither of them helped, fish still had the fungus on them, not as severe but it was there. Later I've decided to try a combo of melafix and pimafix just for the hell of it, done the whole 7 day cycle and it cleared up completely around day 5 of treatment.

I'd suggest getting pimafix and treating them in addition to melafix.

Thanks for the feedback! I'm already using melafix and will start using pimafix today. It should be safe that I did not necessarily start using pimafix the same day as melafix correct?

Did you use full dosage for both melafix and pimafix or did you use 1/2 dosage from each?

 

[ibr3ak]

I dont think it'll be a problem, some people use both even when they notice their fish having split fins, when after just a single dose it clears up overnight. Plus it has natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals.

I've used full dosage for both.

Good luck and welcome to ac

 

[volcomstone]

I dont think it'll be a problem, some people use both even when they notice their fish having split fins, when after just a single dose it clears up overnight. Plus it has natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals.

I've used full dosage for both.

Good luck and welcome to ac

Thanks and glad to be here :headbang2:

Do you got any ideas on what is potentially happening on his eye? Could it also be the same thing?

Also, any ideas on how your mbunas got the fungus in the first place?

 

[ibr3ak]

I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it probably is the same fungus that's on his fins.

Not sure about where or how my fish got that either, this was the first time ever I've seen or had to deal with it, I've read that it could be from poor water quality, fighting wounds, among other things. The guy I got them from didn't have the most ideal of water conditions and had them in a 10 gal growout (around 15-20 fish at 2"-2.5"), so it could've been from that, too much of a confined space and not enough water changes resulting in aggression and possibly leading to the sickness, but that's all just me guessing.

 

[laurenrocksth]

What size tank were you keeping these fish in? You have three extremely aggressive fish there and they would need a very large tank. Are you planning to keep them all?

 

[volcomstone]

What size tank were you keeping these fish in? You have three extremely aggressive fish there and they would need a very large tank. Are you planning to keep them all?

It's a 120 gallon with tons of hiding spaces which I was planning to use as a grow-out tank. All fishes are relatively small ~3-4" for now. I totally understand they eventually will need a tank this size to themselves...more so for the Jag.

 

[katamaran]

A couple of my Cichlids got at it with each other a few days since I introduced themall to a new tank. So far I've been able to seperate all 3 of them (2 festae's and a Jag). So far I've been treating all 3 of them w/ melafix to heal up their damage scales and fins.

Unfortunately, for 1 of the fishes, it that doesn't look too good and I've noticed two things:

1) On his damaged pectoral fin, there seems to be some type of fungus or white dot looking thing around the base of the fin. It so far doesn't look like ich (I've seen ich before)

2) On his right eye, there seems to be a also a white looking thing that's hanging out on the top. It almost like it was some sort of spec that was in the water and landed on this eye. Also, it almost looks like a worm or some time of parasite hanging out in same location of his eye. I could probably pull it if I wanted to (of course i won't do that). However, it's been there for the last 2 days so I'm think it is something more serious than that! I'm thinking he had an eye injury which may have got worse.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm dealing with here and how to treat it. Initially I thought I was just going to be treating for damaged/missing scales and torn fins. However, it seems that for 1 of fishes, the damages are little more severe. I'm trying to take pictures but I have been unsuccessful in taking some. I'll keep trying. Please help!

If melafix/pimafix does/does not help, i would recommend going along with a external parasitic treatment option as well(jungle anti parasite).Does the damaged pectoral fin look shreded? if yes it could be the start of the fin and tail rot disease, which is bacterial.Although Melafix/pimafix are good options i treated my tank with a more internal medicine approach(anti bacterial food).Hope this helps

Regards
Kat

 

[volcomstone]

If melafix/pimafix does/does not help, i would recommend going along with a external parasitic treatment option as well(jungle anti parasite).Does the damaged pectoral fin look shreded? if yes it could be the start of the fin and tail rot disease, which is bacterial.Although Melafix/pimafix are good options i treated my tank with a more internal medicine approach(anti bacterial food).Hope this helps

Regards
Kat

I just started to using melafix two days ago and I will start using pimafix tonight. As for the symptom, I was thinking it was fin/tail rot since the pectoral fin is shredded however, it just looked more like some type of fungus growing on his fins...about 2 or 3 dots near this base. Also, I noticed that there was something on his eye that look to be like a tiny worm or piece of fungus...not sure what it is. I'm hoping that these things get cured with using melafix and pimafix. If not, I know I'll need to use actual medication.