Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Steve on January 06, 2013, 04:39:47 PM
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Just today noticed a slight injury to my male Labidochromis, he has a little roughed up spot on the side of his mouth. He seems fine and eats well and is sifting sand and such so it's not causing him any problems from what I can tell. This is the first "injury" I have had with any of my fish since I started keeping them again though so I just want to make sure I take care of him proper. Is there anything I should do? I haven't been able to get a spare filter cycled yet to set up on the 20g hospital tank so I don't have a way to get him in a quarantine yet. So should I maybe black the tank out for a day or two just to give him a chance to rest up? or since he seems fine then just go on as normal and just keep an eye on him that it doesn't get worse?
The weird thing is there's hardly any aggression in this tank 99% of the time and I looked everyone else over very well and not a scratch on anyone else but him it seems.
here's a pic...
(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/9199/injuryt.jpg)
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Tooth past? ;D Sorry couldnt help my self LOL
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:o lol ;D
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Steve,
I would recommend just keeping an eye on it so it doesn't fungus. I would do a normal water change and maybe add some salt, if you do not already do that after water changes.
I definitely recommend against moving this fish, or any for that matter, with african cichlids unless it is a contagious ailment, or if the "victim" is so severely beat up that you have no choice.
The hierarchy can be disrupted and when you try to reintroduce it, the fish might be tormented without mercy.
In a related manner, I never was one to remove my holding females to another tank for brooding. I always stripped the females if I wanted to save the fry. I found that the females were harassed much more if they were reintroduced after spending extended time in a brooding tank.
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Thanks Tony the thought of causing conflict upon reintroduction actually never even crossed my mind so glad you said that because that certainly makes sense. I never even thought about that. I don't currently buffer/salt to my water, just declor it, so what type of salt and how much should I add on the next water change ? (it's a 55g tank).
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I normally use kosher salt and bring the temp up to 80ish.
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Kosher salt, aquarium salt, not too important the type. As for this particular wound though, I wouldn't worry about raising the temp...no need to fluctuate for something this minor.
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Thanks guys appreciate the advice, I will pick up some salt tomorrow.
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Yep, definitely some discussions going on in that tank regarding the pecking order.
IMO, typically if you have good water quality and the fish doesn't get run down (from getting continually beat-up, stops eating, etc) fungus generally isn't an issue and the wound will heal just fine on it's own without any specific intervention.
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Yep, definitely some discussions going on in that tank regarding the pecking order.
Poor guy probably didnt keep his spot in that pecking order...
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Water changes and salt.
I've used salt (API) for injuries although I'm not 100% on its efficacy; perhaps I'm the one profiting from the placebo effect.