HELP!!!!!

[True Blue Johanni]

Hi! I am new to this forum and not the most knowledgeable in the world of cichlids so any and all help would be appreciated!


Tank:

29 gal.
1 electric yellow lab
1 bumblebee
1 auratus
1 mixed that looks like auratus


A week and a half ago, i noticed fin damage starting on my electric yellow and bumble bee. most of the damage was on the electric though, consisting of only the tail fin and left swimming fin. on the bumble bee it was the pecs and tail fin. i have attempted to treat the tank with a medicine that cures bacterial diseases (including fin rot) but i have not noticed any results. i believe the fin damage is progressively getting worse, also starting to affect my mixed slightly. i have had my electric the longest, 2 years, and then the auratus. they have always had a peaceful history together up until now. the auratus is getting more aggressive and chasing the bumble bee and mixed. i have not witness the electric being chased yet, but i am wondering if the auratus is responsible for some of the damage. it looks like there are bites taken out of the electric, but it seems odd considering the electric is the biggest and has been there the longest. the electric also recently got a dark blotch on its forehead, there is no indent but could it be hole in the head? it doesn't seem likely but i always want to treat something at the very beginning to stop it. electric is the only one with the blotch so far.


I REALLY NEED HELP! THE FIN DAMGE IS GETTING WORSE IT APPEARS AND A AM VERY ATTACHED TO MY ELECTRIC YELLOW! SHE IS MY FAV.! I NEED SOMETHING THAT WILLL WORK! OR ANOTHER SOLUTION! REPLY A.S.A.P!!!!!!!!!

True Blue Johanni

[Dan Woodland]

Since you didn't say the damage affected all fish I think you are not dealing with a disease.

Cichlids are very aggressive and you have two of the most aggressive Mbuna in the Melanochromis auratus and Pseudotropheus crabro.

Given your tank size that combination of fish will never work as it's nearly impossible to stop aggression in these fish. As you said you are a a self proclaimed novice, I would change the Cichlids you are keeping or procure a larger tank and provide more cover (hiding places). You could remove the offending fish but the next most aggressive would simply take over and you'll be back in the same position you are now.

It's very important to research before you purchase Cichlids to avoid a bad situation and allow you to enjoy them for a long time - keeping Cichlids is a commitment as they will live a long time if given the proper environment. If you can't upgrade your tank you should look into one of the less aggressive species available.

I hope this helps, good luck. Dan

[SergeS]

I wonder why people consider the Crabro to be agressive. In Europe, I hardly read reports of agressive Crabro's, but they probably dó become agressive in a tank that is too small (like many cichlids), which is where the problem may be. They look really cute and colourful when they're young, but they grow large (for a Mbuna), and at a considerable rate. Could their feeding behaviour be confused for agressiveness? I believe that in the wild, they feed on parasites (amongst anything else they can get in their mouth). Maybe an 'agressive' Crabro is merely trying to get a snack? I never kept them myself, so feel free to shut me up , but I just see a very mixed picture on this species and I'd like to find out where the difference comes from.

[Philippe Burnel]

i am wondering if the auratus is responsible for some of the damage.

Auratus are very agressive fishes and are not suitable fishes with yellow labs which are very peaceful fishes

[True Blue Johanni]

i now have a tank devider which i am going to put in the tank to separate the aggressive fish. is this a good idea???

[teri]

the divider will help of course because they cant get to each other but your tank it way to small for them all together and the divider is now just making their space even smaller. you probably didnt have problems in the beginning because the fish were small but now that they are getting bigger so thats why your having problems your gonna have to get another tank or get rid of some they divider will do temporarily but you cant keep it long term the fish are not gonna be happy and just get more aggressive that way it could also stunt there growth having them so confined like that and im sure other problems im not aware of lol i would recommend looking in local used ads for a new tank and would get at least a 55 gallon and keep your 29 gallon with the auratus in it and get him 1 buddy of the same breed but even then the 29 gallon is pretty small for even 1 cichlid to be in unless you get a smaller breed like dwarf cichlids