Malawi tank disease?

[Kaia]

So, a good portion of these fish have concave bellies and occasionally flash. I thought maybe they were not fed well. After asking around some think its a parasite and others think I'm crazy. Also when I google it, the parasite thing seems to be coming up. I did a 50 percent water change and omg did that take forever. I added 25 TBS of aquarium salt to the tank (125 gallon) after the water change and salt the fish seem to be flashing more than they ever have. I just was curious what other thought the issue would be and an opinion on what the best thing to do is?

[Loon36cf]

Was the new tank completely drained when you got it?

If so it's possible the tank is cycling that would cause the flashing but not the sunken bellies

[Kaia]

No it belonged to someone else. I didn't rinse the rock and kept I. Moist in transport. I also left the water in the filter and it was all hooked back up upon arrival. I've only had it since 4th. So they already had the concave bellies. Most of the water was brand new though treated with aqueon water conditioner.

[African cichlid Keeper]

concave bellies is  when they have internal parasites. And  occasionally flash could be that your Water parameters are off.

[Kaia]

I know salt helps with a lot of disease? Is the only way to treat this chemically?

[African cichlid Keeper]

I know salt helps with a lot of disease? Is the only way to treat this chemically?

 yes that what I do when I see and cichlid stop eating and having white poop.



Most people don't realize is that hardy fish like cichlids most times have an adequate slime coat to repel them. Sometimes if your fish scratch it might just be because they have an ich, or they could be fighting off parasites. Most times its weak or sick fish that allow the propagation and infestation to begin. Adding salt is indeed a good way to help your fish fight off such infestations.

[Kaia]

Hum, well they do eat and I've not noticed white poop. Seems to be tan (color of pellets I feed)

[Marty]

It could be an internal parasite, or it could be that they haven't been fed very much either.  Fish that haven't been fed for a week will get a hollow looking belly as well.

[Steve]

I'll be the first one to tell ya I'm FAR from an expert, but since you've only had the tank 2-3 days, and you noticed the flashing more after the water change, I'd say it most likely could be just simple change in water parameters. I've noticed when I first started back into the hobby last year that it took me awhile to get the hang of how much water to change, matching the temps, adding the right amount of conditioner etc etc, and when I was off a bit with some of those the fish would flash for a bit after but it didn't last very long after the water change, they would settle down.

As Marty said the sunken bellies could just be a bit of a lack of food since you don't know how the previous owner would feed them, and in the pics of the tank you posted I noticed there was a wide variety of size fish so there may be some that are a bit of food hogs and getting the food before others have a chance. So I'd just watch to see if the flashing continues, make sure they are not showing any signs of ich or white poop as Jenna said, and also feed them on both sides of  of the tank (spread it across the tank so all the fish have a chance to get some) and see how it goes. I wouldn't worry too much unless you started seeing some for sure signs of problems like white poop, constant flashing, white spots on the fish etc etc.

[Kaia]

Great advice! I didn't add the conditioner this time and added 25 TBS of salt at 50% water change. How white is white? If its feeding how long until improvement? I've been watching the sunken bellies and they are eating. If I don't see improvement should I remove only the ones with sunken bellies and treat in a separate tank?  Also I see this floaty white stuff that looks like dead skin? Might be normal but I don't see stuff like that in my other tanks. My other tanks though are not a heavily populated with such large fish.

[Kaia]

That might be old poop, so disregard the pics. Anything I see hanging off their bodies after feeding is the color of the food.

[four_by_ken]

If they are eating and have sunken bellies...  I would feed them good the next week or so and see if they fatten up.    They may just need more food than they were getting.

I am a firm believer now of not adding anything to the tanks unless it is 100% needed.  Live on learn on my part.

[Kaia]

If they are eating and have sunken bellies...  I would feed them good the next week or so and see if they fatten up.    They may just need more food than they were getting.

I am a firm believer now of not adding anything to the tanks unless it is 100% needed.  Live on learn on my part.

Ok I will give it two weeks and see if there is any improvement.

[LoveTheFishies]

Would also check tank parameters.  Either home test or take a sample to LFS and they can do it for you.  I add a stress coat to the water to help the slime coat of the fish.  Could also add live bacterial culture, like API  quick start, in case the biological filter took a hit during the move. 

Agree with water changes, but make sure temp and so forth are same.  More than a couple degree change in water temp can stress the fish out more

The bellies could be sunken if they hadn't eaten much before the move. 

Good luck

[Kaia]

Update: water and video and photos taken in to preuss. Considering I did 100 percent water change and 2 days later 50 percent, my ammonia and nitrite are spiked. I got a sponge and have to do 3 25 percent changes this week. Then 25 percent once a week. They also have a bacterial infection so will be treated for this for the next 7 days.