Sick Mozambique help needed

[Robert MacCara]

My adult male mozambique is showing signs of sickness, but I have no idea
what's wrong.
His fins are clamped and a little ragged. He's been hanging about the
surface lately and not eating. His balance is affected as he doesn't seem
to swim "upwright". His missus knows something is wrong as she stays close
to him offering moral support.

Another interesting point about the pair, is a couple of months ago their
already large lips seemed to get a bit bigger, and the colouration of the
lips changed from grey to a white patch in the middle of the mouth! Not
sure if that's related - I put it down to getting older - something I can
relate to!

The tank is a non-aggressive mixed cichlid lot with no other fish showing
any signs of sickness. The mozambique is the largest fish in the tank.
http://www.dvs.ca/fish for a look at the tank. Water conditions are good.

Any ideas or things to try to help this guy? I don't have another tank
available for isolation, btw.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Rob

[Dave Gunter]

Robert MacCara wrote:
> My adult male mozambique is showing signs of sickness, but I have no idea
> what's wrong.
> His fins are clamped and a little ragged. He's been hanging about the
> surface lately and not eating. His balance is affected as he doesn't seem
> to swim "upwright". His missus knows something is wrong as she stays close
> to him offering moral support.
>
> Another interesting point about the pair, is a couple of months ago their
> already large lips seemed to get a bit bigger, and the colouration of the
> lips changed from grey to a white patch in the middle of the mouth! Not
> sure if that's related - I put it down to getting older - something I can
> relate to!
>
> The tank is a non-aggressive mixed cichlid lot with no other fish showing
> any signs of sickness. The mozambique is the largest fish in the tank.
> http://www.dvs.ca/fish for a look at the tank. Water conditions are good.
>
> Any ideas or things to try to help this guy? I don't have another tank
> available for isolation, btw.
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> Rob

Hi Rob
First comment is the Robyn sp., are you aware of the space that this
species needs as it gets older, it's territory grows exponentially to
it's size. Great looking kid though :-)

Nice looking tank, but I feel you have stocked it in a way that will in
all probability cause you many headaches, fair enough, people do mix
cichlids (I'm guilty of that), but the mozzies, and dempsies aren't
really suitable for a community tank (one too big, the other too
aggressive.) I presume by blue eye cichlids you mean what call jade eyes
(Cichlasoma spilurum), if so they will breed like rabbits and when they
do they get very territorial, I had a 2" female that would keep a full
grown red belly pirhana cowering in a corner (yes, I had breeding
cichlids in with a pirhana).

Back to your original question, ragged edges on the fins, and an upset
balance says bacterial infection to me, I would suggest a course of
treatment with a general bactericide, the Esha range always work well
for me, very tank friendly but effective.

Hope this helps
Dave
www.baarks.co.uk

[Robert MacCara]

> Nice looking tank, but I feel you have stocked it in a way that will in
> all probability cause you many headaches, fair enough, people do mix
> cichlids (I'm guilty of that), but the mozzies, and dempsies aren't really
> suitable for a community tank (one too big, the other too aggressive.) I
> presume by blue eye cichlids you mean what call jade eyes (Cichlasoma
> spilurum), if so they will breed like rabbits and when they do they get
> very territorial, I had a 2" female that would keep a full grown red belly
> pirhana cowering in a corner (yes, I had breeding cichlids in with a
> pirhana).
>
> Back to your original question, ragged edges on the fins, and an upset
> balance says bacterial infection to me, I would suggest a course of
> treatment with a general bactericide, the Esha range always work well for
> me, very tank friendly but effective.

Thanks for your comments, Dave.

The tank mates all started out as new small fish together. The JDs keep to
themselves - playing and chasing often, but they don't bother any of the
other fish at all! I've also traded off all but one of the Blue Eyes
(Cichlasoma spilurum)and that one is a runt. I did move my pair of
Convicts to their own tank as they will attack my hand when doing tank
cleaning! They would keep all the inhabitants of the big tank cowering in
one end while they tended to their babies...
Would Malachite Green be a suitable treatment for him?
Thanks,
Rob

[Dave Gunter]

Robert MacCara wrote:

>>Nice looking tank, but I feel you have stocked it in a way that will in
>>all probability cause you many headaches, fair enough, people do mix
>>cichlids (I'm guilty of that), but the mozzies, and dempsies aren't really
>>suitable for a community tank (one too big, the other too aggressive.) I
>>presume by blue eye cichlids you mean what call jade eyes (Cichlasoma
>>spilurum), if so they will breed like rabbits and when they do they get
>>very territorial, I had a 2" female that would keep a full grown red belly
>>pirhana cowering in a corner (yes, I had breeding cichlids in with a
>>pirhana).
>>
>>Back to your original question, ragged edges on the fins, and an upset
>>balance says bacterial infection to me, I would suggest a course of
>>treatment with a general bactericide, the Esha range always work well for
>>me, very tank friendly but effective.
>
>
> Thanks for your comments, Dave.
>
> The tank mates all started out as new small fish together. The JDs keep to
> themselves - playing and chasing often, but they don't bother any of the
> other fish at all! I've also traded off all but one of the Blue Eyes
> (Cichlasoma spilurum)and that one is a runt. I did move my pair of
> Convicts to their own tank as they will attack my hand when doing tank
> cleaning! They would keep all the inhabitants of the big tank cowering in
> one end while they tended to their babies...
> Would Malachite Green be a suitable treatment for him?
> Thanks,
> Rob

Malchite is a parasite treatment, better off using Myxazin or as I said
before Esha 2000.
Cheers
Dave

[Robert MacCara]

> Malchite is a parasite treatment, better off using Myxazin or as I said
> before Esha 2000.
> Cheers
> Dave

Thanks - I'm out to the fish store later this afternoon so will pick some
up then. I was hoping about the MG as I had some here <g>.

Regards,
Rob

[Robert MacCara]

Unfortunately the old fellow didn't make it.
We are ready if this kind of thing happens again, though.
Thanks for all the words of advice.
Rob

[battlelance]

On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 15:23:27 -0400, Robert MacCara >
wrote:

>Unfortunately the old fellow didn't make it.
>We are ready if this kind of thing happens again, though.
>Thanks for all the words of advice.

Nice tanks Rob, and sorry to hear he didn't pull through.

It never hurts to have a bottle of Melafix and Pimafix either. I know
they are "all natural", and smell like rotten tea leaves, but I've had
super great success with both products and always have a bottle or two
(or three) handy.


From the web:

PimaFix is a natural botanical remedy made from Pimenta racemosa (West
Indian Bay) oil, providing unique active compounds, which harmoniously
work together to attack fish diseases. The active compounds found in
Pimenta racemosa not only provide many different modes of action, but
also eliminate the possibility of the development of resistant strains
of disease-causing organisms. Until now, most antifungal medications
resulted in unsightly water discoloration throughout the course of
therapy....

MelaFix heals open wounds & abrasions, treats fin and tail rot, eye
cloud, mouth fungus and promotes regrowth of damaged fin rays &
tissue. Will not adversely affect the biological filter, alter the pH,
or discolor water. Safe for reef aquariums and live plants. For use in
fresh or salt water....