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Over the last couple of days I've noticed one of my EY's hiding behind the intake tube of my filter and last night I moved "him" (I think it is) into a fry net as his tail fin and anal fins looked ragged, thinking "he" was getting hassled by the dominant male. I don't have another tank with cichlid parameters so the hanging cage is the best I can do for him at the moment.
I checked all the water parameters and the ammonia was just registering so an immediate water change was done as I have learned here. Today I saw one small 1cm EY in among the rock holes. I didn't know they had bred until now.

Now the questions I have are
1. Could the ragged fins be caused by the dominant male hassling "him"?
2. Could the ammonia, 0.25ppm cause stress and therefore the ragged fins?
3. Could my "him" really be a "she" and the ragged fins caused by looking after fry?
4. Fin rot?

Water paras
pH 7.4 last night but a water change and adding Rift salts may have changed that a little
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite:0ppm
Hardness: Very - 30 drops added as per Freshwater Master Kit. Off the provided scale.
BTW I only have added the Rift Salts when doing water changes as per directions.
Tank: 36X12X15
Temp 25C
Fish: 8EY's average length 5cm 4males, 4 females.
I am prepared to remove all but one male if the "him" is really a him and being hassled.
I say "him' because it does have slight black marking on the dorsal fin, but nowhere near as striking as the dominant male and second dominant male.

Like many trops in breeding modes, a bit of chasing and nipping takes place...

I like to provide a thick bunch of real or plastic plants for the victim to swim into and hide.

Once the line of sight is gone the agressor relents and breaks off the chase. You can use tall bushy plants that will hide the trop easily without diving for the bottom.

Frayed fins will usually grow back naturally without contracting any disease if your water quality is tops.

--garyroland.

I actually have what they call Texas Holey Rock in my tank...Basically LimeStone with holes. It serves the same purpose, as it gives the cichlids a place to go and hide. I know I've even seen at the LFS some "fake" rock formations, that have caves and all...it allows the cichlids to have a way of playing "hide and go seek" by swimming through the holes/caves...thus doing as Gary said above...breaking the line of sight and causing the chaser to forget what is going on...Heidi

Gary, sorry to add to your post, but the rock hideouts are working really well for me also (John's idea )

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"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Thanx the two fo you.
I have rock formations with hiding places already.
As for the fins, the tail fin has all but gone even after the fish has been isolated... leads me to a fin rot problem.

Have treated with Multi Cure and see what happens.

Last edited by macbeth at 10-Jan-2005 18:04

When fin damage progresses to that stage, then indeed the fins have become fungused and should be treated accordingly...

If "ParaGuard" is not available in your area then a reliable fungus med should be dosed.

Melafix is out of the question in this case.

--garyroland.

How about dosing with NIC or biospira to help eliminate the ammonia and bring it to zero?

Thanx Gazza