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last weekend one of my fish caught cotton mouth (columnaris) which i managed to medicate in time thanks to a 1:30am rush to meijer for meds. i put Mardel Maracyn Plus in the tank and everything is fine. but ever since then even though only one showed any signs of being sick both have been incredibly underactive. they get excited when i come near the tnak and they both have a healthy appetite but if im not actively arround they both just kind of sit. i figured they would snap out of it after a day or two but now im getting worried. any advice would really put my mind at ease. thanks.

what kind of cichlid and how big of a tank? is the disease cleared up now? if so have you done a water change and/or added activated carbon to remove the excess meds from the water?

I'd guess the fish are stressed from one of the above factors or there could be many other reasons as well. A bit more information about your setup will help to determine what the problem might be.

Jason

I have a Jack Dempsey and a Blood Parrot in a 20 Gal tank. Both cichlids are very young not more than a few inches so they are fine for now in there but are getting moved to a new 55 Gal this weekend. in response to your question about disease, yes the disease is clear and the parrot who was infected is healing nicely. In answer to the water change, i gave them their meds once a day every other day for 5 days so on days 1,3,5. i performed a 40% water change after the second but not again after the 3rd. that may be one of the issues. finnaly, about the filter....crap....i forgot to put the carbon filter cartridge back in since i had removed it during medication i will put that back right now. does that help with any other advice?

I'd do another water change and add the carbon back into the filter. Also, make sure there is plenty of decoration. You might consider adding some floating plants. If you have extra plastic plants just toss them in and let them float around. Jack dempseys are known for being extremely shy, especially as juveniles and floating plants help them feel more at ease. You could probably add a few platys, mollies or swordtails. This might make them feel safer...as in let them know there are no predators around.

Jason

ok i readded the filter last night and this morning the jack was a little more active i think, maby im just hopeful. they both came out as soon as i brought their food near the tank. my main concern is that this is never how either one of them acted before the parrot got sick, before they were both incredibly active, darting all over the tank and occasionaly chasing each other arround. do you think this change in behavior was caused by the sickness? if so, why would the jack have been affected when he showed no signs of being sick?