curviceps w red patches -- ??

[firetank]

hi guys,

scored 4 l. curviceps last friday, today i have noticed 2 of them have red "patching" around the middle of their bodies.....just behind the gills, (the gills are as uniform as the rest of theyre bodies.)

the fish are eating, and active..

im not sure if this is just a sign theyre colouring up some more, or a potential problem??(they have gained a lot of colour in only 5days since..)

water peram. ph6.2, kh <19ppm, gh<2* nitRITE 0 Ammonia 0 Nitrate 40-50ppm.

thanks
craig

 

[tjudy]

Watch to see if the scales under the red patches start to raise up a bit, and look for cloudy slime coat and fin clamping. Red blotches can be a sign of a bacterial infection.

 

[Randall]

Patchy Laetacara curviceps

Dear Craig,

L. curviceps commonly display some reddish lines or striping on the head, gill plate and/or flanks. This coloration is not "patchy" however. I agree with Ted in that red patches may denote a bacterial infection. Please keep a close eye on your fish. Should the patches get worse, a water change followed by an antibiotic may be appropriate.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[firetank]

update!!!

thanks guys,

i think i may have been a tad premature, they do seem to be more the striping Randall describes..

they are behaving and eating healthily; i think i may have a mated pair already!!

cheers
craig

 

[firetank]

good news,

they spawned last sunday, and I now have a good batch of wigglers....

really great, watched them spawn on an amazon sword leaf: theyre colouration is now almost black!!!!