[BlackPearl]

Hello!

I have a mated pair of black convict cichlids, Bonnie and Clyde. About a month ago I got them from my LPS, and no more than a week later they began to spawn. Once I saw eggs on the terracota I moved them to a 10Gal to themselves. I then noticed that they were "cleaning" the eggs, and before I knew it the eggs were gone.

After about a week I moved them back to the community tank they were in, and now (For almost 3 weeks) Clyde (male) will not eat. His belly is kinda pudged out from the sides, and he is very vibrant in color. I feed the tank a various of food through out the day (Flakes, Pellets, and occasionally frozen Blood Worms), in small portions. I make sure every fish gets their share. However Clyde does not attemp to eat, even when it is passing right by him. Also his poop is just a transparent lining, there is no waste, and no sign of any fry.

I also do weekly 20-30% changes. I have a good size community, so I want to be sure I the chemicals are not so concentrated. I just moved all of them in a 55Gal, and the water is prime. There is plenty of decor, plants, and I use freshwater safe sand substrate. The tank is not overcrowded, I even made a prime spot for them in a terracota surrounded with smooth rock with a plant for privacy, and it's nice and shaded inside too. I dont know if this is normal for male cichlids, but i hope he will be ok!!

Bonnie on the other hand could not be any happier, she is very vibrant(as of now she is showing more gold orange through out her body), has a good appetite (always has a plump belly), and is always exploring and chillaxin in various spots. Both Cons are juveniles too, so they're probably still trying it out for the first few rounds? :-?

Please Help!!
Jess

My Community tank consists of: 55 Gallon
Davy Jones- Albino Tiger Oscar 4.5-5"
Capt. Jack Sparrow- Jack Dempsey 3.5"
Betty- Blood Parrot 3.5"
Red- Red Jewel Cichlid 3.5"
Clyde- Male Blk Con 2.5"
Bonnie- Femal Blk Con 2"
Pleco 3.5"
Capt. Barbosa- Stripped Peacock Eel 6-7"
Gary- Midnight Blue Snail 2"

 

[JCsicklidnewbie]

Hello

First, I'm no expert and I hope everything turns out for the best. However, I experienced a similar issue once with an oscar that I over fed. It's poop was white though. I've learned that poop different than the norm is a bad sign as that was the first sign i got from O. It didn't eat for a couple of weeks and then it passed. However, I would think your juvie con wouldnt make it three whole weeks without any food? If your parameters are good and the tank mates are the same (and not stressing him) then I'm thinking there was something it might have eaten that caused the issue? Again I'm no expert just trying to help....hopefully someone else will chime in with better help. The only thing I can relate it too is my O that had abnormal poop once I over fed it.

best wishes.

 

[BlackPearl]

I try my best not to over feed, but i make sure every fish gets a bite to eat. Clyde is the only one that seems down, always low on the substrate or just hanging out above a log. Parameters are good and temp is about 80 degrees. Also all of the tankmates get along very well...actually my BP is the most bossy of them all, and my jewel can get kinda spunky too. Clyde could be sensitive...in the ten gallon he would hang out in the corner by the heater. I had thought maybe he is carring the eggs in his mouth until they hatched, but i have yet to see any fry. And if he ate them, his waste would have some propety to it :?

Hopefully someones got a good idear :-?

 

[JCsicklidnewbie]

Im not sure but I think Cons are pit nesters....not even sure if they would collect them (hold) if threatend, plus it doesn't take that long for the eggs to hatch. I will say this...Clyde's situation sounds exactly like my O....it would sit on the bottom (no energy) and only move when it had too. The fact that you made the post coupled with the fact that everyone else is ok....indicates his behavior is different from the norm so I would assume there is a real problem. There is a book you can buy or checkout at the library called Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems from A-Z...the book is awesome....recommend you get it.....might help you diagnose the problem.

Do you have picks?
Did you ask any local experts.....LFS/LPS
best wishes...

 

[BlackPearl]

Just snuck in and tested the water...
Kinda got freaked out, all the fish were fast asleep (my JD was cuddling next to my O )

Clyde was in his lil dune he made...but once i had the light on he started to kinda drift with the current on the floor...and bumping into stuff. I dont know if he was half asleep or really sick.

Teseted with a Test Strip:
Nitrate 0-5ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Chlorine 0ppm
Hardness 200ppm
Alkalinity 80-120ppm
Ph 7.2-7.8

Just added some drops to bring the Ph down a bit, and some water conditioner. Its a 55gal that hasnt cycled yet. But Clyde has had this issue since before the transfer, and hasnt gotten any worse or better. Gonna do some google research!!

 

[BlackPearl]

If anyone wanted to know...

Clyde did not make it after all. RIP

 

[mlancaster]

Hi BlackPearl,

I am sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like he had an internal parisite, I belive they are challenging to treat.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[silver_rose42]

I'm sorry to hear about Clyde... At least the rest seem to be doing okay together, which is always a good thing. But he's in the great fishbowl in the sky now, happily swimming.