scales lifting up on my cichlid??

Question

my female convict has her scales lifting up around her left side gill?
She seems fine what could this be?
She is scratching her gill on the rocks and stuff
Please help!!!

Thank you all very much for your answers!!
I really appreciate all the honest and informative answers that were given. I can decide on a best answer so I am going to let others vote. Thanks again! :)

Answer 1

If she is trying to scratch the area it could be ick. Do you see any spots? There are many different parasites that could be causing this, and she needs to be treated right away, it could also spread to the other fish. Try to go to a reputable fish store and ask them what medication would be best

Answer 2

The lifting scales sounds more like dropsy. Generally there is bloating, the scales lift on both side, and the fish looks like a pine from above. The scratching sounds like a disease like ich/ick, or velvet. Often with ich a fish will develop ich in the gills, and scratch itself prior to developing white salt like spots.

Dropsy- Generally you want a broad spectrum antibotic, and check the nitrate levels in the tank. Nearly always fatal even treated.)

Ich- Small salt like spots. Treat with anti-ich med. Don't increase heat until you add the ich med.

Velvet- Very hard to see in normal light, but looks like a gold/rust mist on the fishes scales under flash light in a dark room. Most ich meds work on velvet.

Answer 3

While this may be the start of dropsy it is important to understand what dropsy is. Basically it is a catch all term for kidney failure. It may be due to poor water conditions, stress,disease or even genetics. The kidneys in a fish are constantly pumping water out of a fish,if they shut down a fish will 'bloat' even to the point of becoming a pinecone. This is obviously irritating to the fish and may be itchy hence the need to scratch. While some treatments are possible (testing and correcting water conditions) often by the time you notice the problem it is too late. fish will often 'hide' problems so they don't get picked on,this can make it difficult to diagnose early enough to treat. Whenever you see behaviour changes its time to test the water

Answer 4

You may have to get a universal water tester at your local pet store and be sure it isn't water conditions causing it before you start indiscriminately adding cure all chemicals. These complete test kits are fast , easy and cheap. Well worth it if it saves your fish.

My fish scratches at the rocks too , but more in a behavioral manner , not with any other symptoms.

Answer 5

Well if her scales are lifting(looking like a pine cone?), I'm sorry to say that is a sign of Dropsy. Its unfortunatly uncurable. Bad water conditions can cause this. Hopefully I'm not interpeting your description right and its something else. Hows her appetite?

Answer 6

Check the nitrates. When they get elevated the bacteria levels increase and start to irritate the fish. Reduce them to a level until the fish stop. Some cichlids never get them at any levels while others begin to start rubbing at levels as low as 5 ppm.

Hope this helps.

Edna

Answer 7

if the fish looks a little bloated its dropsy and it is treatable with maracyn.

yours sounds more like it might have some parasites or flukes or something. there are lots of parasite meds on the market -- try a copper based one or if you want namebrand thats usually easy to find try maracide.

Answer 8

it could be the beginning of dropsy. thats when the whole fish puffs its scales up like a pinecone. and is IS curable. just 1 tablet of medicene usually fixes the problem. my fish had it.