Allie

There is something really wrong with our male hap ahli. He has been lethargic, sitting on the bottom of the main tank, now the sick tank. For 2 days now. He is dull and dark...not the bright blue he was. He looks old, but he is only 2 years old. I think he has been beaten up. He had eye cloud, but we put melafix in with him and that has gone away. Gosh I hope he'll be okay. At least he bred not long ago.
He was fighting with the male acei, who is the dominant fish in the tank. They killed one of our frontosa last week. I better not lose my blue hap, Spike. The haps were my first 2 cichlids along with 2 yellow labs, back in 2006. I feel a tad attached to my blue hap pair than the other African cichlids we have.

capekate

awww sorry to hear that Allie, I know how much you love your cichlids and have been doing so well with them. I wish your lil guy Hap the best and a speedy recovery!

~ kate

Allie

I think he has always had a swim bladder problem. He never swam right and floats around upside down when he sleeping. He isn't bloated, he actually looks sunken in a bit. I really don't think he's going to make it. He isn't responding well either.

COBettaCouple

I'd treat him for internal parasites.

Allie

That's what we are doing. He is getting better with just higher temps and water changes. I wanted get aquarium salt to add, b/c that's what helped the last time we had a fish with internal parasites. It took a month to heal that fish.

COBettaCouple

I hope this guy heals up fast for you.

Allie

Me too the female is itching to breed again.

COBettaCouple

Let him know that.. it will give him incentive to get better.

FishnFry

That's a very good reason for him to heal fast. I'm sure he'll be all over her the minute he's back with her.

Allie

I still don't like his coloring or the way he is breathing. I don't think he'll be back in the tank anytime soon. At least he is eating and swimming (not perfectly).

Allie

He is doing fine with just high temps and water changes. Here's how he looks now. I am waiting until I feel he is ready to go back in the main tank.

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