fishlover0010

:;hi,
Does anyone have any suggestions as to why my geophagus is staying at the top of the tank?
All the water tests are in the normal parameters.
I know there are times he is picked on by the other fish, all african cichlids.
HELP Please

hkirchen

Is he eating and pooing normally?

agabr123

hi and welcome

can you post exact readings? what kind of test kit are you using, paper strips or liquid? what do you keep the temperature at in the tank? have you recently used any medications? do you have an air stone or bubble wand?

sorry about all the questions, but they will help the members figure out what's wrong with your fish

el_nino

you can not have geos with africans. 1 africans will beat up the geo and they have nothing to defend them selfs. 2 africans take hard water with a high pH, geo's need soft water and a PH around 6-7. im new to the hobby but i have a south american geo tank and the guy i use is a pro with geos and has taught me alot and my tank is thriving. good luck.....
what is your PH GH KH?

fishlover0010

He only recently started getting picked on, and I have had him for about a month.
I am hoping to upgrade to a 150 in the next few months for the african cichlids so it will be the geo and jack dempseys in the 55.
Thanks for your help

fishlover0010

I do not know the exact readings right now, 3 days ago I tested the water and everything was in the normal parameters.
I use the AFI paper strips, the temp is a constant 78.
No meds and I have a large airstone.
Thanks for your help, I just may have to get rid of him

el_nino

ya i have been told those test strips are not that reliable. with the geo they need soft water and a lower ph so i would get the test kit for ph, gh, kh at your LFS.. and who knows you just might have a sick fish where there nothing you can go

el_nino

also what kind of diet are you feeding the geo??

fishlover0010

I switch between cichlid attack pellets,omega one veggie flakes and the cichlid bio gold pellets.

el_nino

thats good food i was just asking because geos don't eat from the top. but your good on food what king of geo is it

fishlover0010

I'm not sure, it has yellow tipped fins yellow lips and black stripes going from its eyes down the side of its face.

fishlover0010

Sorry but I do not know much about oscars, but is it common for them to jump partially out of the water during feedings?
Last night my albino jumped out of the water and bit(sp) my finger to get her food.
I am still learning about how to take care of oscars
Thanks in advance

el_nino

im not really sure on oscar but its probably normal, hes just attacking food. try yo put the food under water and then let go. in a book i have its says to do this to avoid swim bladder problems, with them gulping air..

cerianthus

I do not know exatly what your pH is at but Geo should be in different pH water from Rift Valeey African Cichlids. Although fish can tolerate/adapt to wider range of pH than specified/known, this maybe classic symptoms where extreme condition when exposed for prolonged time (Chronic effect than acute effect of extreme pH), eventually will weaken fish to a point where it can not defend itself ot mates see/notice such weakening behavior of fish. COMPETITION!.

What is present pH of tank? Is it possible to DIY contraption where it can be isolated in same tank if separate tank is not an option at this point?

Hope this helped!

fishlover0010

I did a ph test and it was at 7.2, ammonia was at 0 however the nitrate was in the danger level.
I did a 50 percent water change yesterday and will check the levels again today.
After the water change he went back to normal behaviors.

fishlover0010

Thanks for the info on the oscars, the food they get are floating pellets, everytime I put sinking food in the tank the stay vertical looking at the top for the food.
Strange but interesting fish Gotta love em