I need cichlid help, they are bumping along the bottom of the tank?

Question

This isn't my first cichlid tank. I let my tank dry out when i moved and then i set it back up. i added some crushed coral to the tank, ph is 8, temp is 76, no ammonia, no nitrites or nitrates, i bought 4 malawis from Superpetz in annandale that looked fine, and now two days later they are lathargic and kind of rest on the bottom of the tank. I know that's not normal. What can it be?? The only thing I could think of is that the crushed coral has too much salt?? I rinsed it for 3 days?? Any help???

Answer 1

It would be nice to know what Malawi's and what sized tank it is. Parasite is usually the first thing pointed out, yet more often is not the problem.

Make sure the ammonia and nitrites are really 0 - you just set up the tank again so you'd think there would be some - and if there isn't then there should certainly be some nitrates there. Make sure your tests are recent and not expired, and keep testing.

Make sure you are feeding them properly - the diet of many types of Malawis should be mainly vegetarian (spirulina flake) and too much meaty and fatty food can cause bloat, which leads to, among other symptoms, listlessness (other signs are lack of appetite, failure to defecate or white stringy poop)

Coral has no salt, it's calcium carbonate. Any salt that might be on it from collection would not harm the fish, it would be too small an amount after rinsing. There really can't be too much crushed coral unless its bring the PH too high (past 8.5), but in your case it isn't. Your temperature is fine as well.

Aggression can often cause problems like this as well. Malawis can be very aggressive and territorial - they need big tanks and are usually best kept in a crowded environment, so aggression is spread out among more fish. They also need to be mixed carefully and many must be kept in groups. Basically, there's a lot to know and these fish should never be approached blindly. You say you kept other cichlid tanks, but didn't mention what - there's a huge difference between different species and biotopes and methods of different ones can be quite opposite from one another.

There is the possibility of shock, but it's very rare - not only are these fish extremely robust, but most pet stores use plain old tap water, and most tap water is in the mid to high 7's in the first place for PH, so I have my doubts. Still, if this is so they should recover on their own.

BTW, these days most Malawis are actually bred relatively locally, though they certainly still import them too.

Answer 2

Are you sure your tests aren't off? The 0 ammonia and nitrite is good but there should be nitrates in a cycled tank (anything around 20 ppm is good..or a bit lower).
If you've got a brand new set up and added 4 malawis for only 2 days, you should be seeing a spike in ammonia for cycling. Unless, you're using the same filter media from the first tank (assuming you left the media in a bucket with some of the tank water). The crushed coral should be good for an African cichlid tank though..raises the PH.
One other thing though...what type of set up were the fish in at the fish store? Shock can occur when putting fish into the RIGHT conditions...if they were in the wrong conditions to start with. If they left them in low PH water, soft, etc..and you moved them to the right conditions, this will also shock the fish if not moved up gradually.

Answer 3

220 Gal sounds big but for the type of fish you are keeping it's not big enough. Sorry. The alligator gar alone is too big for your tank. They get to be 8" in the wild. Some even 12-24 feet and 300lb. So a stunted one might be about 4" in an aquarium. I bet your Alligator gar is not one. but in fact a Spotted Gar or some other smaller type of gar. You could do Spiny eel with the cichlids. But the Gar is going to have to go off to a monster fish keepers tank. Someone with a 400 + Gal tank. In the 220 gal this is what you could have. Oscar Parrot Flowerhorn And 1 "Tire Track Eel" Adding the Jaguar Cichlid would be pushing it these guys get to be 18" and are aggressive.

Answer 4

I would suggest an internal parasite as well. They are not at all uncommon in newly imported or harvested fish and most Malawi's are imported from breeding farms in Africa. Double check your ammonia readings too because that could easily be a cause of the problem if your test kit is off.

To treat the potential parasite, I recommend either Clout (first choice) or Maracide.

MM

Answer 5

I wouldnt worry about it because Lake Malawi Cichlids live on the bottom of the tank. It might also be some parasitic stuff.

Answer 6

I had to take one of mine out and give it to a neighbor because he was too aggressive for the others. The others were not allowed to move or the one would attack them so they hung out in one spot.

I had gotten them all real little and from the same tank at the store but as they matured it just didn't work out. Now that he is gone the other three are great. Rearranging the tank daily. I am only a novice but that was my experience with them not doing anything.

Answer 7

It mat be a parasite and you would need to treat them. I try to find you a link that will help.
I can not find any good site. But, most times the parasite may cause discomfort for the fish and they hit on the rocks. If, that what it is. My Oscars just hit on anything and they not sick.
You can try looking, ICK will be small white spots, some will be hard to see without a Microscope. Many Pet Shops sell a General Cure All that work for the most common parasites.