Oscars and other cichlids - scales missing on sides

[SayersWeb]

In the past several days the small Oscars in my 180 gallon started loosing scales on their sides. At first I thought it was because the pair of Citrinellums were protecting their fry, which are now about 8 weeks old.

Yesterday, I started to notice the same problem with the female Synspillum. She also has some of those bumps in her tail that look like parasites, much bigger than ich bumps, so I am getting really worried. One of the Oscars is missing so many scales, that you can see his flesh underneath. The male Synspillum is starting to look a little rough as well.

The Clown Loaches, a slightly larger Oscar, and a couple of others look just fine.

Any suggestions? It's a huge tank to treat, but I don't know what else to do.

 

[JSchmidt]

My guess is that they're fighting and maybe developing secondary infections at the wound sites. Any chance you can fashion a tank divider and separate them to see if they start to heal?

Jim

 

[daveedka]

I would guess fighting, and the secondary results, Unless the smaller Oscars are huge, I would get a q tank set up quickly (can be done fairly cheaply), and transfer them. treating 180 gallons is rough (expensive) and if there are agression issues, getting the wounds healed may take a while. The ones getting beat up will not quit being picked on during treatment unless they are separated with a divider or different tank. With that many cichlids and a breeding pair, your 180 can be a small place for a juvenile fish.