Lip Lock gone bad

[pitterpatti]

oh, I don't like this directory.......ugh.

My pink convict looks like he got in a lip lock tonite and looks like his top lip may be somewhat pulled off . That is pretty serious isn't it? (I think they had babies again.)

These aren't good pics but here goes...... There is like a line of red across the top of his lip. looking at it from more underneath him, it looks like it could be somewhat pulled off or out.

Need to separate him right?

I have Melafix. Will he need this to heal? Have to put him in a 10 gallon then.

I could put him in the 55 gallon with a divider, small area by himself. I don't have a divider for the 75 cichlid tank yet. Could figure something out tomorrow though. But he needs to get separated tonight right?

Not sure if I really like these cichlids........:ughd: stressful!

Patti

[kSpieler]

Melafix will help alot, and you can dose the tank without it hurting the other fish. I don't have alot of exp with fish agression, so I can't really say if you have to move him ASAP. Is he still fighting? I do know that convicts are relentless about protecting their eggs & babies, so if there are eggs you probably should either move him or rig some sorta partition I guess.

Good luck, hopfully someone that knows more will answer soon!

[masroberts9]

it can heal by itself.

[bra8ndy8]

He should be fine with Mela........Cichlids are like pitbulls....he'll pull through!

[pitterpatti]

So I can put Melafix in the tank with my Bio-Wheels and it won't mess up anything?

Below are better pics of this fellow. Had to dig out the better camera and find the USB.

Thanks
Patti

[bra8ndy8]

Just make sure there is no carbon.

[masroberts9]

yeah melafix should be fine with your bacteria, but the carbon will pull the medicine from the water.

[pitterpatti]

oh, I don't have carbon in there right now. So we are okay there.

so for a 75 with lots of big, heavy rocks, I should probably dose about 40 gallons worth, sound good? not sure about over dosing? 50 gallon dose might be better?

Pic attached. He moved out of their cave and is alone now in one in the middle and is not feeling too good, you can definately tell. He not real protected in that cave but I will turn out the light till morning. There are no fry at this point.

I tried to separate the pair off together one time and they FREAKED out about being separated from the others. Lots of anxiety. I will try tomorrow and see how it goes.

Now I just need a divider for a 75 tank.

Thank goodness I am on vacation this week. hee haa!

So, could a Parrot do that to him, or do you think it would have been the kilin?

I have a convict it looks like to me in there, small girl, supposed to be a kilin but she has obvious stripes. She is still young and very dark. Has some of the kilin marks. Let me post her to see what she may be. She is laying eggs too, with the other Kilin I believe so the pink convict may have messed with her brood. I don't see eggs for her (now anyway) Guess we will never know.

Thanks

[bra8ndy8]

Well I would love to tell you it's not the Parrots....but last week one of my biggin's passed, and they mornither one was in the corner breathing hard. I Qt'd him and added meta, and he passed by morning. Both with ANYTHING! I am still confused....they had been together for over 2 yrs....no eggs.....just a couple chases.

[pitterpatti]

I have been reading posts......... so I just need to post this cichlid fighting stuff under SA cichlid section hugh, rather than "Problems" ;)

Guess this is just a typical thing with cichlids. hmmm.

[masroberts9]

nah, i would think this is fine here. another person not familiar with cichlid behavior might think it is a problem and look here. if they are familiar with the behaviors then they wouldnt be looking for anything.

[pitterpatti]

Okay, so this is what I found on dosing melafix:

As a Disease or Wound Treatment:
Add 1 teaspoonful (5 ml) for every 10 U.S. gallons (40 L) of aquarium water. Repeat dose daily for 7 days. After 7 days, make a 25% water change. Treatment can be continued if necessary
http://www.bigalscanada.com/Features/Articles/data/melafix.html


It doesn't say anything about water changes until after 7 days. Just keep adding 4 teaspoons melafix to my 75 gallon every day for 7 days? Then water change. hmmm. I have to do a water change/clean for the week tomorrow so I will start 7 days then, and already did one dose tonite.

What do you all think?

Thanks

[kewlkatdady]

I never add meds to my tank...
unless I ABSOLUTELY have to...

this is just a wound, no illness.

Salt and time will do the trick. Watch the wound closely, to make sure that it heal without any fungus growth...

If you do...which i doubt you will, see the fungus growth, then treat the tank with Melafix.

Again, I've never treated my tank for a single fish wounded.

[biggin]

Kick up more water changes it should be fine.

[cichlidkeeper]

sometimes i feel like throwing my con pair out the window. all my fish in the 55 have white areas (not fungus) on their mouths from locking jaws

[Haiven]

Patti, I'm almost positive the convict was fighting with the Kilin parrot. The blood parrots aren't able to close their mouths all the way, so they usually fight by ramming each other.

I put Melafix in my tanks all the time with no harmful effects.

by the way, my Kilin Parrot's mouth looks like some kind of unfortunate prizefighter - lumpy and ugly. He and the convicts had lots of lip locks when he was in the big tank.

[pitterpatti]

the Kilin looks unaffected? actually, none of the others look like they have been fighting.

The tank is in an uproar this morning. The smallest (fertile) parrot has got the male parrot away (sort of) from its original female. All four parrots are tumbling and bumping and nipping all over the place, the kilin is just hanging in his cave(S), and the convict is hiding away.

interesting.

[cichlidkeeper]

do parrots pair of and lay eggs?

[alta678]

do parrots pair of and lay eggs?


Yes, they do. My pair did all the time. Never got any fertile eggs out of it though.

[flamenco-t]

Forget melafix...separate the convict, do WC every 2-3 days and add 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallon.

It'll heal up. In my experience keeping fish, melafix and pimafix don't do crap....

Fish have high metabolism, they will heal quicker than anything. Give them a good clean environment to prevent secondary infection and you're fine..

My small aro lost ALL his tail and his rear end (gar took a chunk out of it), I separate him, do WC every other day and he heals up to 80% one week later (this morning).

The only meds that you need is the anti bacterial (gram positive and gram negative) and parasite remover..

stan

[pitterpatti]

I found him floating dead in the tank yesterday morning. So sad, he was one of my favorites.

Now there are only two males in the tank, it is a 75 gallon. They have kind of divided the tank. The male parrot probably doesn't stand a chance against the Kilin though because of its mouth. 4 females in there with them. Maybe it will be more peaceful now. I think I prefer the less fighting better.

Guess I am not a real cichlid girl at heart, but I just love watching these parrots, so much personality.

Thanks all for your comments.
Patti

[Haiven]

I'm so sorry, Patti! I know you loved that pink guy!

FYI, my Kilin's eyes are fine and I put him back in the tank with his mate. They're happy as clams!