Healing injured cichlids + isolation questions

[threshershark]

I am not sure if this is the right thread to post this, so let me know if I need to move it!

I recently added new cichlids (3 total) to my tank (40g long) while they definitely aren’t the smallest of the tank they are in the middle leaning towards the smaller end, my lemon cichlid is of course being extremely aggressive, and the second biggest aggressor is my lyretail, currently the lemon (ironically named sunshine) is in temporary isolation in a nursery/breeding box the previous tank owner used and I am debating on doing the same to the lyretail.

Anyway, the main question of this post is about treatment/healing. I was planning on using melafix to help heal the nipped at fins of my new cichlids, but I won’t be able to set up a separate tank to put the specifically noticeably injured fish in for another couple days. Is it possible to put melafix in the main tank for both that and to possibly help the other fish incase they have possible injuries I have yet to notice.

In addition, as mentioned previously I currently have the lemon in isolation to prevent her from hurting the fish further, I read you’re supposed to isolate aggressive fish for a couple days to a week but I’m not sure if this would be okay to keep her in for that long. Down below I attached a picture of her in isolation, she is moving around, just not much.

The other picture shown is of one of the new guys, Carl, he has been up in this corner of the tank swimming around and not straying far from it since this morning (he was added yesterday) and I’m worried. The other two new guys are swimming around seemingly fine going all over the place, so it’s just him being like this. I was considering putting him in the other isolation unit until I get the other tank set up to medicate him and the other two, but again I’m not sure how okay that is.

Any and all advice is helpful! Thank you.

 

[Andy Sager]

I'm assuming this isn't the same tank as the Von Rio/ Angelfish are in? You do realize that what you have are African Cichlids, correct? As such, you have to be very careful with the order you add new African Cichlids to the tank. Smallest fish first, larger/largest fish last. The Lemon appears to be much larger than the new fish so that's a problem for the new fish. The decorations in the tank appear to be sparse and that is not a way to keep Africans. They should be crowded with lots of rock work to keep them from fighting with each other. They have a very different behavior than South and Central American cichlids. Africans are not really good planted tank fish unless you get certain species.

As for medicating, if all the issue is rips from the other fish, clean water and a good diet are all you really need to have for them to heal up. ( And honestly, those " Fix" medications do not really do much so I wouldn't use them. ) Since the fish in question is new, it could a host of problems from being sick to being harassed. If it's getting harassed, it would need to be in a separate tank until it gets larger and can defend itself better. I would also recommend quarantining all new fish for at least 60-90 days to make sure they are not bringing in any pathogens to the main tank.


So for now, I would place the cowering fish in an isolation tank like the lemon and see if that solves his shyness. Make sure you place something in the isolation tank for the fish to hide in or behind. I like to use PVC connectors for things like this. The fish can go inside of them and feel totally protected. After that, I'd get that extra tank going to separate the smaller fish until they are better equipped to handle the bigger fish.

 

[threshershark]

I'm assuming this isn't the same tank as the Von Rio/ Angelfish are in? You do realize that what you have are African Cichlids, correct? As such, you have to be very careful with the order you add new African Cichlids to the tank. Smallest fish first, larger/largest fish last. The Lemon appears to be much larger than the new fish so that's a problem for the new fish. The decorations in the tank appear to be sparse and that is not a way to keep Africans. They should be crowded with lots of rock work to keep them from fighting with each other. They have a very different behavior than South and Central American cichlids. Africans are not really good planted tank fish unless you get certain species.

As for medicating, if all the issue is rips from the other fish, clean water and a good diet are all you really need to have for them to heal up. ( And honestly, those " Fix" medications do not really do much so I wouldn't use them. ) Since the fish in question is new, it could a host of problems from being sick to being harassed. If it's getting harassed, it would need to be in a separate tank until it gets larger and can defend itself better. I would also recommend quarantining all new fish for at least 60-90 days to make sure they are not bringing in any pathogens to the main tank.


So for now, I would place the cowering fish in an isolation tank like the lemon and see if that solves his shyness. Make sure you place something in the isolation tank for the fish to hide in or behind. I like to use PVC connectors for things like this. The fish can go inside of them and feel totally protected. After that, I'd get that extra tank going to separate the smaller fish until they are better equipped to handle the bigger fish.

No, this is a completely separate tank from that one that has been running stable for over a year and a half. But yes I know they are african cichlids, I was put under the impression they would be okay to add to this tank from prior research.

The tank does have a couple of live plants but not to many, most of them are fake ones/significantly bigger as well as two pretty large rock/slate pile decorations and some smaller rocks and plants to fill empty space. But I can definetly invest in more decor if it will help.

I won’t be able to set up a separation tank til tomorrow, should I run and get some more of the isolation chambers until then so they are safe for the night?

 

[Andy Sager]

No, this is a completely separate tank from that one that has been running stable for over a year and a half. But yes I know they are african cichlids, I was put under the impression they would be okay to add to this tank from prior research.

It's as much the size of the fish as it is the species . Like I said, smallest fish go in first. If you added 3 of the same specie, it's not unusual for them to fight amongst themselves. This is why the ore decor you have, the better.

The tank does have a couple of live plants but not to many, most of them are fake ones/significantly bigger as well as two pretty large rock/slate pile decorations and some smaller rocks and plants to fill empty space. But I can definetly invest in more decor if it will help.

Let's see a full tank pic before doing that. Notice how this tank is set up with a lot of rock and hiding places?

I won’t be able to set up a separation tank til tomorrow, should I run and get some more of the isolation chambers until then so they are safe for the night?

I would definitely separate the affected fish from the others so if you have that option, I would.

 

[threshershark]

It's as much the size of the fish as it is the species . Like I said, smallest fish go in first. If you added 3 of the same specie, it's not unusual for them to fight amongst themselves. This is why the ore decor you have, the better.

Let's see a full tank pic before doing that. Notice how this tank is set up with a lot of rock and hiding places? View attachment 391635

I would definitely separate the affected fish from the others so if you have that option, I would.

This is the most recent picture I have unfortunately. Around 6 relatively large and 1 small fake plant have been added since this was taken so it’s definetly not as bare as it was. I will take another photo when I get back home.

 

[Andy Sager]

This is the most recent picture I have unfortunately. Around 6 relatively large and 1 small fake plant have been added since this was taken so it’s definetly not as bare as it was. I will take another photo when I get back home.

Instead of stacking those flat rocks on top of each other, spread them out so that fish can go underneath them or behind them. I'd even take one of them and stand it upright in the open area on the side of the tank where the sneakers are on the floor. ( It's easier to say that than say right or left because that leads to " Who's left or who's right???" LOL ) You can even take a thicker stone and a thinner stone and place them under one of the flat rocks to make a pass through or hiding spot without worrying about the large rock falling. Bottom line, you don't need more rock, you need better rock placement.

 

[threshershark]

Instead of stacking those flat rocks on top of each other, spread them out so that fish can go underneath them or behind them. I'd even take one of them and stand it upright in the open area on the side of the tank where the sneakers are on the floor. ( It's easier to say that than say right or left because that leads to " Who's left or who's right???" LOL ) You can even take a thicker stone and a thinner stone and place them under one of the flat rocks to make a pass through or hiding spot without worrying about the large rock falling. Bottom line, you don't need more rock, you need better rock placement.

I will definetly try that! I have some smaller pieces of slate I will use as well. I found this large (maybe 3ft?) log, do you think in addition to that this would be good to have? Or just stick with rock?

 

[Andy Sager]

I will definetly try that! I have some smaller pieces of slate I will use as well. I found this large (maybe 3ft?) log, do you think in addition to that this would be good to have? Or just stick with rock?

It looks nice but you are working with rock dwellers so not the best choice. Stick to rocks and caves.