Male Convict Cichlid Not Showing Stripes

Hi, everyone.

I am concerned for my Convicts. The male is no longer showing any stripes, but instead a series of spots across the middle of the body from just behind the eyes to 2/3 of the way along the body. He is around 5" long.

The female is beginning to show the same problems. She is about 3.5" long, and you can still see the stripes faintly, but they're almost invisible. You can still see the spots as on the male, and the little flecks of orange.

What is wrong with these fish? Is this just something that happens and is not the beginnings of any problems?

Thanks in advance.

 

It could be they are trying to tell you there is something not right with their water. Have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH? How often do you do a water change, and how much at a time? Do you use a gravel vac? How long have you had these fish?

 

When somebody dumped a bunch of convicts into my goldy tank, and I had to shove them in a tiny tank while I did some emergency switching, that's just what they looked like. If I'm reading your profile info correctly and you use the API test kit regularly and you've had these guys a year, my best guess is general stressed caused by some sort of recent contaminant to their water; either an ammonia spike, or has anything happened out of the ordinary (switched conditioners, huge water change, missed water change, somebody else caring for your tanks for a weekend, etc)? Have the parameters of your tap water changed recently?

 

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Tootsie: I've not tested the water in a while, because I've not had a test kit. I did have one a while ago, and then my aunt decided to take it. I do 25% water changes every week, but I don't use a gravel vac, as I have sand. I stir up the sand and clean it thoroughly, though.

Wisecrackerz: As previously stated, I don;t use the API test kit regularly, as I don't have one. I have not had the convicts for a year, but only two weeks. The tank has been set up since August 2010, though. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

 

Can you post pictures?

Any time you are concerned that there's something wrong, before even coming here and asking about it, you should do a large water change. It is possible for contaminates to get in that you cannot test for. But in any event, I would do a 50% water change, minimum. Right now. Don't even respond until it;s done

 

If you can take a water sample into your LFS, have them sample it. 25% may not be enough water to keep the water in top quality condition. Try doing 50% water changes per week. I'd also do a 50% daily water change for the next 3 or 4 days, just to try to dilute what ever element that may have accumulated in the water that is bothering them. You can never go wrong by changing out water when something seems to be negatively affecting your fish. Once isn't always enough, do try to do it for a few days.

Can you get Seachem Prime or Kordon Amquel+ and Kordon NovAqua+ where you live? If you can, I'd start adding them to your water changes.

 

Tootsie: I can get Prime, but I have to order from Amazon. I use Nutrafin, generally.

I just did the water change, and I noticed three things:

1. I need a new filter.
2. Convicts jump... A LOT.
3. I have eggs all over my driftwood.

I've also run out of water conditioner, so I'll order some Prime from Amazon in a few minutes.

 

Give us an update in a few hours.

 

You are under filtered. Adding another filter, or getting one big enough for your tank would be a good idea. I trust this is what you were talking about, and not just new filter media itself?

 

Okay

I just ordered 500ml of Prime, I'll be getting a new filter (Either two Fluval U3 or a single Fluval U4) after Christmas. The current filter is a Fluval 3+, which was recommended for my size tank by a friend of mine.

 

Well, the Fluval U3 is rated for a maximum tank size of 40 US gallons. Your tank being measured at 46 UK gallons is equivalent to a 56 US gallon tank. Most times manufacturers under rate their filters not allowing for enough filtration for the larger size of tank they claim that filter is good for. The Fluval U3 has an output of 155 US gallons per hour. For your tank that only gives you an exchange of 2.77 times your tank volume per hour. With HOB filters, they work best when 8 to 10 times the amount of water your tank holds goes through the filter in an hour, so for an HOB you would want one with about a 560gph flow rate. For a canister type filter, you would want 5 to 8 times your tank volume to be able to go through it in an hour, so you would want one that has about a 448gph flow rate. I'm not as familiar with recommended internal filter flow rates, but the Fluval U3 is rated for a 20G - 40G tank. So using the 20G calculations of 155gph / 20G = 7.75 tank turn over per hour, this is what I think you should aI'm for in your 46G UK (56G US), which would mean you'd want to make sure your internal filters alone or combined would = 434gph flow rate. Using the U3 you would need almost 3 of them to give you that amount of water flow. Tell me if I lost you.

 

if you can find a used canister filter that would be good.

 

I have a Fluval 3+, not a U3. Nevertheless, I'm planning on upgrading heavily with filters. The U4 is 260 gph, and I'll be having two of them.

 

Fluval 3+ has an even lower filtration capability, so it's a good thing you're planning on upgrading. Your tank info says U3, but at the moment that's a moot point.