"Muuurgh" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"NetMax" wrote in message
...
"Muuurgh" wrote in message
reenews.net...
I bought a couple freshwater flounder a couple weeks back.
Unfortunately I put them in a tank with "mildly" aggressive cichlids
(they managed to kill two other cichlids, all of my shrimp and the
crawdad). They ate one flounder and the other is badly scarred on his
back with his fins all torn up. I have traded in all of my cichlids
and I am wondering if the flounder will ever get better. I have
treated the tank with Melafix and Fungus Clear, it has been a week
since the cichlids have been removed. The flounder's condition has not
improved. He seems healthy in that he swims around and acts normally
but his fins and scars are not looking good.

Here's the catch: I want to populate my tank with Mpimbwe Frontosa,
they shouldn't be nearly as aggressive as the other fish I had. But
I don't want to introduce them to a tank that is infected. I have
had two other fish that have inhabited this tank through this whole
shebang (a bristlenosed pleco and a flying fox) they are doing
superb. They show no signs of disease. How can I tell if my
flounder has a disease? Should I flush him now before the Mpimbwe
arrive in case he is infected? Or should I take a chance and simply
introduce them as normal?

Should I add Fungus Clear when I do introduce just to make sure?
What other precautions should I take?

Thanks,
Muuurgh


Sounds like you need more tanks. Frontosas get the size of Oscars and
have similar feeding requirements. Are you ready for that?

Yes.


As long as the fish (in this case a flounder) is eating and behaving
normally, and the wounds are not fungused, then I would let the fish
recover on its own.

How do I know if the wounds are not fungusing?

If the edges of the wounds are clean, not fuzzy. I've read that you can
also use many of the techniques that work on people, like a Q-tip with
mercurochrome or iodine, if it's necccesary (usually not).

If the damage to the fins does not go to the base, they will grow
back. Time will tell if there was any internal damage done by the
cichlids. Never flush them. For a recovering fish, there is the LFS,
friends, fish-clubs, or keep him yourself in that tank or in a
recovery tank. Sounds like he has earned a chance to have some time in
peace, and a few war-wounds just adds character ;~).

Nice. As long as he doesn't kill my new Fronts.

I'm not overly familiar with flounder eating habits. It usually comes
down to size, if it fits in a fish's mouth, then there is a danger. I
imagine your flounder's mouth would not be larger than the fronts you're
buying. I suspect a flounder's concentration would be more on
crustaceons, worms, bottom-feeder pellets etc. Fronts are usually quite
laid back (if the tank is big enough). hth
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www.NetMax.tk

-Muuurgh


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www.NetMax.tk