I have a freshwater lobster that is laying on its side, whats wrong?

Question

I have a 55 gal freshwater tank that is home to 6 African Cichlids and a Lobster. I've been having ammonia problems and have been doing 25% water change everyday to keep the ammonia level at 1.0ppm or lower. I've also tested my Nitrites (1.0ppm), and PH (8.2ppm). Recently the Lobster is in his usual daytime spot underneath a rock formation, but today his is there lying on his side against the glass. I gave him a little poke to see if he was dead and he quickly took off, only to return to the spot 5 minutes later still lying on his side. I’m not sure what kind of Lobster it is, I have taken pictures of him and posted the links below. In them you can see him in his current state, lying on his side. It seems pretty obvious that he is dying; does anyone know what I can do to help him?
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a302/bcappelletty/DSC03025.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a302/bcappelletty/DSC03026.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a302/bcappelletty/DSC03027.jpg

Answer 1

Lobster and crayfish love to lie sideways up against the side of tanks etc . This is a natural way for them to sleep and keep their vulnurable undersides protected. I have raised hundreds of crafish and they like to sleep this way. They also like to crawl above water sometimes including laying sideways 1/2 above the water pressed against the side of the tank .

If he is a tropical lobster than he is likly fine. If he is a cold water lobster than the temperature is deffinitly off. He looks like the cold water type to me .However the ones from maine usually have larger green claws. If you got him from the pet store he is likly a warm water lobster they usually carry a blue lobster that can be 4 -10 inches long. If he is from walmart etc and was likly going to be eaten then he is the cold water type.
The cichlids are warm water tropical fish. Therefor a cold water lobster won't last long in warm water. Hopefully he is the warm water tropical type . If he is a cold water lobster keep him in cold water, no heat and in a cold room or basement.

Normally Only worry if you find it upside down then it is either molted and the shell of the lobster or it will be dead if it is upside down . The ammonia likly means you have poor filtration or you are overfeeding your fish . If your lobster is larger than the aggresive cichlids then it should be fine. the cichlids especaily oscars will eat any crayfish or lobster that will fit into their mouths. I recomend an undergravel filter with 4 power heads or 4 air chamber pump and then a power filter on the side.Feed The cichlids only every 2 days with food that they eat within 5 minutes time.The lobster should have plenty. If you are worried about his food intake get some sinking scavenger / catfish pellets for him.

Answer 2

African cichlids are aggressive fish that will try to eat the lobster. The lobster is weak from running away from the predators and found a good hiding place to seek refuge. When you poked him,he got scared think tha he was being attacked. He won't survive long in that tank. He needs water that cooler and less salty than the cichlids need. He might not even get any food..When he sheds his "skin",he'll be even more vulnerable to be eaten.Notice that pet stores keep them with the feeder goldlfish because the water is the same requirement for both,and the lobster may eat goldfish if they can catch them,but the godlfish won't eat the crayfish.

Answer 3

Wrongs can be different between cultures and can change over time. Some cultures believe that certain food must be prepared in a certain way and it is wrong to do otherwise. That wrong my have evolved before refrigeration was available and so may no longer be applicable. Even so, there will be some who follow the tradition just because it worked for prior generations. For people who believed in the necessity for racial purity some people it was wrong to have integrated schools, shared restaurants and bathrooms. For people who believed in male superiority, it used to be wrong for women to expect equal pay. For populations that were dying because of disease or loss of life in war and natural disaster, one can imagine that homosexuality was discouraged because it diverted sexual energy from reproduction. I suspect that if you check the 10 Commandments you will find that each was described to discourage actions that tended to have bad results for those societies at that time and probably still does. In many cases, just as you have described and to the developed world of the 21st century, these bad results appear quite logical. In Biblical times, only a few understood the logic or had the wisdom. Moses was very wise indeed and knew that the long suffering Tribes would never have believed he could personally have such wisdom but if he described these as the words of God, well . . . . . .

Answer 4

the lobster is so big that the cichlids might be hurting it. I dont know much about lobsters but maybe they play dead, but i wouldnt count on it! i would say to make sure the cichlids arent huring him and if th y are move him away from them.