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sick or injured apisto

TK27

New Member
Messages
16
Hello everyone,

I'm a bit worried about my male apisto cacatouides. He is a gentle fish, doesnt harm anyone. his female companion is a bit more aggressive(only with fry tho). I have fry so she is still guarding them. Now my male apisto tried showing off to her, but she just attacked him a few times when he tried. He has done this before with when I had other fry, but nothing happened those times. This time it happened a few days ago, the days after that I only seen him under a big piece of wood, being a bit more quite then normal. It was hard to see him under there. Today I saw him somewhere else, I was able to take a good look, but I was kind of shocked when I found out he had a few wound-like things on his body. His scales looked bad, like standing up a bit. I was unable to take a picture, because he didnt stay still and went back to his hiding place. Is there anything I can do for him? did someone have a similar story or something? I have a smaller quarantine tank that I could use.. he does his dancing/showing off all the time to her (when the fry are getting bigger only tho), so im worried he might be sick or something.

I appreciate all help, thank you for reading.

Greetings,

TK27
 

MickeM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
441
Location
STOCKHOLM , SWEDEN
Hi TK27 +all..

Can you add any pictures on the poor guy..??
If it is "only" effects of female aggression/biting, he may just need a rest (in another tank?) so he can heal and get some self-confidence back + grow to her size (if he is smaller than her..?)..
..and he may then have gotten fungus on his wounds/scars.. (white cotton-like growth).. This can be fixed..!
But if he is "bloated" from within.. in circle of 4-6 "scales" or more (all infected/surrounding scales pointing away from the body) he may have gotten an illnes/internal bacterias.. and then he will probably not survive I`m afraid... even if medicated..

From what you say, I guess it`s only some healing that is needed.. away from the good + highly motivated mother!! :)
..and after all.., he is still dancing for her..!! .. so his energy is still there/"normal"..

In these situations our tanks are often too small if compared with a natural creek/pool.., (Where a dominant male may swim away from female/s and take care of his own buisness.. guarding/protecting his wider/great territory..and stay occupied with chasing predators away!! )
In your/this situation..an excess of hiding places/line-of-sight-barriers+ plants may help him to find some "calm spots" in the tank !!?? .. or use/fix a plastic tube just beneath the surface ..for him to rest in..( I use some common/old camera-film canisters floating free for that purpose !!)

/Micke
 
Last edited:

MickeM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
441
Location
STOCKHOLM , SWEDEN
.. I use the canisters for my killie-fishes + Betta-species when breeding, but if these are too small for your male you should probably try some other kind of tube..!!
Search the web and you will find/see many different options..!!
 

TK27

New Member
Messages
16
Hello MickeM,

Thank you for your reply! I took him out and moved him to a smaller tank, he is alone and recovering. He had some fungal infection, and a minor case of dropsy. My LFS guy came to my house to take a look and helped me to diagnose him. He is looking a lot better right now. I think he is going to be just fine. I will keep him alone for another week and then place him back. ooh and he seems to have a little scar, where he had the fungal infection.
About the size, he has a normal size for a cacatouides male. The female is rather small. When I picked her, she was the smallest of the bunch, but she had the most color.
I have another male, he is a real monster, in size and behaviour. I made a topic on this forum about that aswel. This guy killed a bunch of fish (including his females) in his first tank. I took it from someone thinking it was just the tank size and number of fish, but he was just a bully. He had more space and less fish in my tank, so it was already going better, but he was still chasing everyone in sight. Learned here about creating those spaces. I managed to "tame" the big guy by redoing his tank. Did this in both tanks.
Also, My water lvls happened to be a bit off at that time. nothing really big, but it could have been a factor for him getting sick this time. maybe a bad timing. I have always had great water, so I didnt expect it. I wasnt late for my water changes. yeah things dont always go right, hopefully I never have to see this again.
 

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