Fishy Emergency

[misterking]

There are two types of peacock cichlid.

One being the one from lake malawi, which requires a rift lake set-up (hard, alkaline water) which can really only house other rift lake cichlids and synodontis cats. The other is the peacock bass which grows huge and eats everything big enough to fit in its mouth.

Please google search this to clarify why one you have.

I also think it's more likely to be the bad water quality causing the wounds.. parrot cichlids have very odd-shaped mouths due to messed up genetics from hybridisation and can't really do any "biting".. As Newman said, plecos are scavengers rather tha active hunters and will generally only latch on to weak, ill and lethargic fish.

 

[IceDragon]

Thanks for all the help guys. Even though i have lost all my fish im better informed to restocking it. The peacock ended up dieing last night. Now all i have left is the parrot and the pleco and as soon as i get a day off the are going to a pet store. I have an exotic fish store by me and they have huge plecos and huge parrots there. Im sure tthey will take these guys and give them proper accomidations. Then i'm going to leave the tank run for awhile and then have u guys help me restock. Thanks again for trying to help. I had a feeling it was a losing battle neways.

 

[Newman]

don't JUST leave the tank to run. if you know about the nitrogen cycle, you will know what to put into your tank while it's fishless.

 

[IceDragon]

I thought it was better to let it completely cycle. I was going to tear it all down clean everything and change decorations. Then let the bacteria cycle to start again.

 

[Newman]

if you're gonna do that then go ahead. I was just referring to the fact that you need to add daily drops of pure ammonia into the tank while it's fish-less, so don't forget that

 

[IceDragon]

How about that bacteria start. I just spent the last month or so trying to get rid of ammonia.

 

[Sharkee]

bacteria start alone won't get you anywhere. You need to feed that bacteria and that's where the ammonia comes in. The problem with your tank was that you had way too much ammonia and your ammonia-eating bacteria couldn't keep up. Real plants would also help in that regard.

As Newman said, look up Nitrogen Cycle. It'll save you from having so much frustration later.

 

[littletankbigworld]

Also, bacteria in a bottle doesn't work, unless it's refrigerated during transport to the store, and while it's at the store, which it rarely is.

 

[Newman]

apparently Cycle works if it's refrigerated after opening...but still if the tank is fish-less and you're not adding ammonia, then w./e bacteria you add with the bottle will die on the next day w/o ammonia to feed on

 

[IceDragon]

ok guys thanks for the info. ill look at the nitrogen cycle forum and start over from scratch. Again thanks