URGENT: Shark's skin coming off/infected?? Help please!

Is this you Golden Cichlid?

Is this your fish? This is from aquafish.net website.


Malawi golden cichlid - Melanochromis auratus

malawi-golden-cichlid-profile.jpg
Malawi golden cichlid
Melanochromis auratus ( fish name )
http://www.aquariacentral.com/upgrade001_upload.php?src=h=malawigoldencichlid
Maximum size (min-max): 10 - 12 cm ( 3.94 - 4.72 in )
  • pH of water: 7.5 - 8.9
  • Water hardness (dGH): 10 - 25 °N
  • Recommended temperature: 22 - 27 °C ( 71.6 - 80.6 °F )
  • Temperament to its family: aggressive (read this answer)
  • Temperament to other fish species: aggressive (read this answer)
  • Place in the aquarium: Top levels
  • The way of breeding: Spawning
  • Fish origin: Africa
Description
This is a very aggressive fish who should only be in an aquarium with equally aggressive fish or in a species aquarium with one male with a few females.

Sources
The Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish by **** Mills

Aquarium Fishes of the World by Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, Dr. Warren E. Burgess, Neal Pronek, Glen S. Axelrod, David E. Boruchowitz

Picture
Bought by aqua-fish.net from jjphoto.dk

malawi-golden-cichlid-profile.jpg
 
If the Pic I just posted is not your fish, could you post a pic of your cichlid? Then one of the experienced fishkeepers here could give you exact personality profile of your cichlid.

I agree with Vader and Viva, that the cichlid will pick on him again, and certainly you must not put the shark in with any other fish until he's completely healed; no open wounds at all.
 
Unfortunately most cichlids are aggressive. Cichlids are best kept in species tanks in a community with as-close-to their natural environment as possible. Most cichlids prefer large rock formations to swim and hide in. (From what i can see in your original photos you have no rock or decor to create territorial boundaries, or safe hideaways for any of the inhabitants.)

All fish have specific water temperatures, parameters, diets, and husbandry practices.

The fish you had together unfortunately don't work. (Beyond the obvious damage caused to your shark, they dont work according to text book.)

Any cichlid owner deals with fin nips and small bites from territory scruffs and breeding behaviors, you need to have large enough space and territories for them. Over-stocking with fellow cichlids and over-feeding with over-filtration are a few options to help subdue, but not eliminate aggression.

I could go on and on- but basically, if you put them back together there will be more injuries. It's natural for the fish you are keeping.

You're doing a great job with your shark, and he's coming along nicely. It's hard to bring a fish back from an injury like that- and you may want to consider getting new tanks for your fish or rehoming a few....

REGARDLESS if you keep all the fish, for the current injury- YOU CANNOT ADD THE FISH BACK IN WITH THE SHARK UNTIL HE 100% OR YOU'LL JUST BE GOING BACKWARDS.
 
I didn't look at this thread until today, since I knew I'd have nothing to offer. But after seeing how long it's gotten, I had to take a look. I'm glad I did!

This fish has made remarkable progress towards recovery! Keep up the good work, Dano!
 
Until it is completely healed over, other fish will have a tendency to pick at it. One of my discus must have gotten startled and bumped into driftwood which left a small scrape on it's side this week. I watched my large male mouth the wound I'm assuming to get the little piece of loose flesh off. And it wasn't once and done, he mouthed it several times over a period of time. The scraped fish kind of tilted to let the male discus do this. It kinda reminded me of a dog licking a wound that's not it's own.
 
Pink that's really interesting. Did the male discus cause any further damage or does it seem to have really just been helping out?
 
The male discus was not causing further damage but seemed to want to take care of the boo-boo. Really interesting. And it was only the male. And it is not one he has spawned with.
 
That's crazy! I wonder if other discus keepers have seen similar behaviors or if the instance is truly bizzar. Hope the wound healed without issue!


Danno- can you get pics of his progress?
 
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