mlinden84

This morning, much to my horror, my female yellow lab. cichlid was practically dead... She wasn't trying to swim, just drifting in the current, and didn't even try to swim away when I netted her. It's clear she has been beat up by some of the other cichlids in the tank (although last night she was fine when I shut off the lights) she has barely any of her tail left, and red marks on the back 1/3 of her body. I moved her into the 10 gallon that I was setting up for one of my new bettas.
Is there anything I can do to save her? Any medications to help? Or is it just something that has to heal? I've got a few medications on hand, and I will also be going "into town" today so I can pick some things up. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Drea

poor baby. Ciclids can be so rough with each other. My only thought would be to add some stress coat. Glad you had a safe place for her. I'm sure some of the gurus here will jump on this...good luck, take care

mlinden84

Thanks for the quick reply! I do have stress coat, so I will add some to the tank right now.
I'm just glad I happened to check out the tank today before I left, I doubt she would have made it through the day in the big tank. The fish always chase each other, but this is the first time anything like this has happened (and the first time any of my fish have been visibly hurt like this!!)
Shes in a nice warm cycled 10 gallon tank right now, hovering in the corner under a rock. I really hope she makes it!

Gozer_1

Well, I hope your fish is doing better soon. Some species will attack and kill their own when one gets weak, sick or injured. One tiny scrath on a pirahna and the others will devour it. (for example) I've seen Blue\green chromis do the same in a Saltwater tank. Could be one fish got a little rough and drew blood. From there the others may have gone after it very aggressively.

Good luck with fishy rehab. TLC is the key!!!!

mlinden84

Here's some pictures. She's just laying on the gravel. Not breathing heavy, but not really moving.

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Drea

Yea, she's probably resting up, and since her tail is is lacking size, she probably doesn't feel like she can swim that easily. She probably already feels better being by herself. You did great getting her separated...she's just going to need tlc and support. I can't think of anything else now, but more FF comments are coming soon I'm sure....

Gozer_1

She looks like she is doing ok considering the circumstances. As long as she's swimming upright she's probably doing well. The Stress Coat will certainly help her feel better.

mlinden84

Well thanks for your help! I'm so worried! She didn't even try to swim away when I caught her with the net (usually i have to take all the rocks out of the tank to even attempt to catch them).
I am thinking about finding new homes for a few of the bullies... I don't want them doing this to each other again!

Allie

Melafix works wonder on african cichlids....aquarium salt too.

Allie

Who are the bullies? What species?

mlinden84

Who aren't the bullies? The electric blue johannis (not sure if thats spelled right), the male socolofi, the male yellow lab... really just all the boys. I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of the males and keeping the females that I have.

Of course I'm out of melafix, but I will pick some up this afternoon. I will add some salt to the tank, wasnt sure if it would help or hurt. Thanks for your help!

mlinden84

What about increasing the heat? Will that help at all? its at 79 now.

Gozer_1

79 is good. I'd leave it there.

mlinden84

Unfortunately last night the poor little girl died. She just took too much a beating... nasty little buggers...

Gozer_1

I'm sorry to hear it. You did all you could do.

Drea

So sorry, Michelle...you did what you could and atleast little lab didn't have to struggle to the end. Sending hugs your way

mlinden84

I had originally posted a big long post early sat. morning, but it was lost when the site crashed.

I just wish I could have done more for her, I felt so helpless looking at her fighting to breathe and just laying there.

I've still trying to decide if I am going to get rid of the cichlids and go to a community tank, or if I will get rid of the ones causing problems.

Drea

I know what you are going through, I tried keeping ciclids, they were too much of a challenge. My last yellow lab, I adopted to a good LFS and he got purchased the same day. I am happy with my 2 tanks. Go with your instincts to decide

Allie

That sucks...at least she isn't getting beaten up anymore. They may be gorgeous fish, but they can sure get NASTY when in breeding mode.

mlinden84

Isn't that the truth!

Would it help if I removed all of the females and just kept males? (I don't have room to get any more females since its only a 55 gallon tank)

Allie

If your males are that aggressive I would. Or you could chose two species and have a few of each. From my experience & what I've read. Melanochromis species: EBJ are super aggressive, so you could pick another aggressive type that could hold their own. I had a single male M.Chipokae who ruled my 80g I use to have. He was still yellow when I sold him so I thought he was a she...The guy who bought him had another male...as soon as he put my fish in his tank he got dominant male colors and took over his tank... weird. They are also master of disguises.
I want to do an all male tank someday. They stay just as pretty, no breeding. I wonder if they dig as much as they do with females in the tank? Out of boredom, maybe.

mlinden84

Thanks for the advice. I've had these guys for almost 8 months and never had a problem like this before. I think I will find new homes for the females in the tank and see how it goes with the males. Or maybe find a new home for the 2 e.b.j.s

Gozer_1

My friend has a lonely Bumblebee male who digs like there is no tomorrow. lol He hopes to get more now that he upgraded to 55.

mlinden84

Too bad your friend isn't closer, he could have some of mine.

Allie

I figured they dug like crazy no matter what tank they are in. Ah well.

Drea

You know whenever I had my ciclids, they always re-arranged the substrate. IMO I was thinking that they seemed content when they did that behavior, cuz I didn't see in-tank fighting at all.

mlinden84

Mine re-arrange the gravel all the time, or at least a certain few do (they pile it all up on TOP of the large limestone rocks, or in the front of the tank, so its like 8 inches of gravel in the front, and absolutely none in the back)

miked09

hey I figured I'd post this question in here since I have kinda the same problem with my yellow lab now. I got him about two weeks ago and he just started doing the same thing yesterday. He was a little beat up from the small jewel i have in the tank with him before hand...but now the jewel isn't touching him or anything.
He's breathing but he's lying on his side on the bottom of the tank and doesn't move at all when I try and net him. Was there any medications? or treatment? I don't have any other tank or something to put him into to separate him either.
What can I try and do?

edit: hhe's also got a couple red spots on him around the fins, but I think that may just be from getting beat up.

mlinden84

I added some more aquarium salt and some melafix. Not sure if it helped, as she seemed to get worse, but she might have been too far gone to save anyway. Salt and melafix cannot hurt, so why not?

You said you don't have an extra tank, do you have a net breeder or is there a way you could get one? THey are fairly cheap, like under $5, and would help to separate them. A separate tank is always a good idea to have on hand in case something happens, but for some people they just dont have the room/money for one. Completely understandable! = ) I think if you added some salt and some melafix to the tank, and put the sick yellow in a breeders net (i like the nets better than the hard plastic ones, seems a little more fish friendly).

I hope you have better luck with yours than mine! Keep us updated!

miked09

alright I'll give all that a try...thanks a lot