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I've had a few deaths in my 80 gallon mbuna tank. They've been few and far between, so I wasn't too concerned for the most part, especially as all parameters check out. But I've lost two in close succession and the symptoms seem to be showing in a few more. Time to be worried!

The main symptom that these fish show is a very sunken belly, and often skinniness all over to the point of looking skeletal around the head. The last two seemed to rapidly reach the point of looking like this, at which point they would weaken, spend a lot of time in the top corner and succumb soon after.

The sunken bellies seem to point to internal parasites, but no other symptoms usually related to this are present - no stringy white excrement, no problems eating (until they get very ill). Since the first few times this happened it seemed to be the smallest and weakest fish - usually females - I thought perhaps they were being bullied out of their food, but after watching them eat a few times they all seem to get their equal share. And now it has happened to a couple of the larger fish, though the alpha males still look very strong, round, colourful and healthy.

I'm stumped and very concerned...it's been a long time since I've had a problem like this in my tank .

Now, for the all-important parameters:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: around 10ppm just before a water change, around 5ppm the rest of the time
Temp: 26C
Ph: 7.8
Tank size: 80 gallons
Tank occupants: 1 melanochromis johannii
1 labidochromis caeruleus
1 pseudotropheus socolofi
3 labidochromis sp. "Hongi"
7 maylandia crabro
Filter: Fluval 404 canister
Cleaning regime: vacuum gravel and 25% water change fortnightly. Use Prime water conditioner, no other additives.
Feeding: Once per day, Sera brand spirulina flakes supplemented occasionally with real spinach and peas.

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

I would treat for intestinal flagellates - parasites even without any stringy white excrement. Sunken bellies and weakness toward the end with really isolated deaths definitely sounds parasitic to me. The rest of the tank parameters and everything sound fine so I would go ahead and treat the tank.

Metronidazole and praziquantel are good meds if you can get them, I don't know what is available in Australia for intestinal parasites.

I second the use of Metronidazole. I've used it several times with great results. You can use it in a few ways. if you have frozen food, try melting it, adding a small dose of the meds, then refreezing. Then serve it in the tank still frozen so the fish take it in as they eat. You can also treat the water column (removing carbon of course) - this is just as effective - IME - but does take a higher dose of medicine and takes a little longer to show results. Good luck!

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Back in the saddle!

Thanks for the replies! Just came back from the LFS. I bought Aquarium Science Worm Rid, which does have Praziquantel as its active ingredient. Now waiting for the tablets to dissolve in a cup of aquarium water. Fingers crossed!



The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

JB hope your friends are all okay! keep us posted

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~