Sick Cichlid

[chrisf9801]

I have a medium-sized Albino Red Tiger, about 7", that is acting kind of strange. He floats on his side all the time, and has been doing this for the last two days.

He is breathing normally, he's not swelled up, he is swimming just fine...just on his side. He eats OK too.

The last water change was last Saturday, 6 days ago. Ph is 8.2 Amonia does not register, neither do Nitrites or Nitrates.

Any ideas?

[Stang69]

I have no clue unless he perhaps ingested a bubble and it has settled around his swim bladder and perhaps this has thrown his bouancy off. Sorry I am not much help but I will do so askin and searching and try to find out fer ya







Jeff

[chrisf9801]

Thanks...I am really at a loss. I tried to catch him with a net this morning with no luck, he sprints away!

Maybe he has just gotten lazy!!!

[TwtyBrd]

We once had an oscar who would take naps on his side up in the corner of the tank and on the gravel, also on his side. Maybe he's napping

[geekrat]

Mine likes to do that when he takes the food away from everyone else and eats to much...heh

[Deborah]

Sounds like a swim bladder disease. I have had goldfish die from it but I'm not sure how it will affect a cichlid. Goldfish can be helped by a change of diet; more vegetable matter to counter constipation or sinking food so they don't gulp air while eating. You might try something like that.

I have read many theories about the causes of swim bladder disease. Some say it is caused by a bacterial infection; fancy goldfish with egg shaped bodies are prone to it and it is blamed on constriction of internal organs. I don't know that anyone really knows what is going on with the fish.

[chrisf9801]

Well, today he seems to be back to normal.

All of my Oscars tend to float on their sides but not fro two days or more. I hate it when they change things up! Too much time and money involved to be comfortable in losing one!

[Deborah]

Glad to hear it!