Why are my fish dying?

Question

My Cichilds scales are turning a red color the and dying very quickly but my oscars are fine but slugish

Answer 1

What is the diet and water chemistry like? You have other cichilds mixed in with Oscars? What is the tank size? I suspect you could be seeing the Oscars bullying the other cichilds depending on size of fish and tank. Could be a disease as well. Hard to say without follow up information really.

1. Tank size
2. Total population, what are they all in there
3. What are you feeding them.
4 What is your water chemistry readings, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate ect..

JV

Answer 2

Sounds like a temperature change problem to me, just lost 2 needle nose gar due to a water change and the water was too cold and damaged them. The first one died with in an hour of the change, second one, two days later. They both turned reddish as they died. The Oscars are just a bit tougher fish is all. Don't have a clue as how to "fix" it, but melafix is a good product to try.

Answer 3

It sounds like your tank is on its way out. Sadly they may have a parasite which leads to ulcers. This is why they are turning red, they are infected. The Oscars are showing the second stage signs of the parasite and will likely follow the cichlids progression. Do you notice any fish flashing or rubbing against the rocks like they have an itch? You can try salt baths, a quarantine tank or medications but be careful what you do because the meds can kill the good bacteria in the tank. Your fish are not lost yet but do research to try and diagnose the exact problem.

Answer 4

Sounds like a water chemistry problem to me.
Research proper pH, hardness, and temp. Test for Nitrites and Ammonia. You should know what all that means, if you don't, you guessed it, more research.
Pet stores will test your water for free. Put some in a ziplock and take it to where you bought the fish.

Sorry, I don't know proper levels off the top of my head.

Both these fish types need LOTS of room! If their crowded, their gills don't work and they can't breathe.
Also, waste (pee and poop) builds up. Bad news, never a good idea to lay around in your own poop. They need space for that, as well as proper filtration.

Check your equipment. Malfunction causes death.

Answer 5

How long has it been going on?? How long have you had fish? Get a pint of your water to a fish store that can test it out. What is the water temp? Fish get sluggish in extreme temps.

Answer 6

if you are getting them from one store only get them from another stroe or whatever your feeding them get somthing new.

Answer 7

Can you please check your ammonia levels???

Because that sounds like ammonia poisening


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB


Will check back later