[scottp125]

Hello All,

I've a 9 month old chocolate cichlid in a 55g tank who seems to be in the greatest of health, except for a strange scratching at feeding time and two tiny black spots (one raised) on it's right gill. At first I thought that it was a parasite, but except for feeding time, I never see Choco scratching.

The raised bump is about 1/16" and the other is about 1/8" further up but not raised. There isn't any cottony substance around it. His appetite is ravenous and his activity is normal. I recently gave a 5 day Maracyn TC. No ich and all other fish in the tank are fine, though two weeks ago 3 barbs died the same night. It wasn't a water change night, more like mid-week. My shark died about 3 weeks before that.

Here's what information I can think of that you will ask:
(test results, yesterday. Weekly 25%; Monthly 50%)
- ammonia 0ppm
- pH - 6.5
- nitrite - 0ppm
- nitrate - 10ppm
- 72 degrees
- de-chlorinator and enzyme enhancers used

 

[cichlidaholic]

Can you post a pic?

Black spots usually stem from too much spirulina in the diet, stress, or external parasites.

Most of the time, they are harmless, but with the occasional flashing you describe, it worries me a bit.

Maracyn wouldn't really work for external parasites...I would try something like Jungle Parasite Clear for 3 treatments, spaced 48 hours apart, with a 25% water change prior to each treatment.

Kim

 

[scottp125]

I've been trying to get a picture for the last 5 days. He doesn't like the camera near the tank, so makes it hard. Especially once he goes camo for the distance shot. He's also still getting his trust back up for me after being a science experiment in the Maracyn (which was for suspected gill disease. Truth was that Choco can turn different shades of red, to match those brand new red rocks I got...hehe. oops )

They aren't expanding/contracting, merely staying the same. I'll do my best to try to get a picture to post. The best I've ever gotten of him though is a profile from about 2 feet away. My zoom isn't good enough for the spots...

Haven't heard of the Jungle stuff before, I'll check that out.