Home

>

Fish

>

Hi, I've 8 cichlids (2convict, 2dolphin, 2iceberg and 2livingstonii cichlids) in a 90 liter tank. My 2 dolphin cichlids are very aggressive. They always hit the others and chase them all the time. Should I seperate them or what else can I do? Also, I was using an internal filter. But yesterday I bought an external filter and installed it (after doing a water change). Next day, my fish started to swim up and stay on top of the tank. Is it normal or did I do something wrong? What should I do?

Hi, I've 8 cichlids (2convict, 2dolphin, 2iceberg and 2livingstonii cichlids) in a 90 liter tank. My 2 dolphin cichlids are very aggressive. They always hit the others and chase them all the time. Should I seperate them or what else can I do? Also, I was using an internal filter. But yesterday I bought an external filter and installed it (after doing a water change). Next day, my fish started to swim up and stay on top of the tank. Is it normal or did I do something wrong? What should I do?

Updated On August 5th, 2017

Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish

Image profile

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

Remove them or provide more cover (plants and hides) for the other fish to hide or escape. When fish hang near the top, it is usually due to low oxygen levels, low water temperature or improper water chemistry. It could be related to the different filter or the water change. Confirm proper water temp and use a test kit to check water chemistry. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0 ppm (parts per million) and nitrates should be 40 ppm or less. Monitor chemistry closely until you know how the new filter operates. Make sure it is rated for the size tank you have to ensure adequate filtration. Correct imbalances using chemical treatment and additional partial water changes using aged/conditioned water.

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

See More Answers

Related Questions

My 8yo Golden had a falsepregnancy w milk. Cabergoline has resolved it now. I hear conflicting opinions about spaying. She has never mated. Some say not spaying would cause pseudopregnancy recurrence+dangerous conditions like Mammary T. But UCDavis studies say spaying increases other aggressive cancer risks among GoldenRs. Also, vet thinks that her anemia that keeps coming back after prednisolone trtmnts *might* be due to Ovary cysts, suggests spaying. What's the right approach for her health?

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Lav. I've heard many owners quote the UC Davis study, and there are a number of things wrong with the study. Check out this article on it: https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/deconstructing-spayneuter-debate Not spaying her can cause a pseudopregnancy reoccurrence, but it doesn't increase her risk of mammary tumors. That's already going to be 25% because she's had more than two heats. Keep in mind, 50% of mammary tumors in dogs are malignant. She is eight years old, so she is already at a higher risk of developing cancer simply because she is an older dog. She is also at risk of a pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus that is fatal without treatment. The treatment for a pyometra is spaying the dog, which is an emergency during a pyometra and can cost many thousands of dollars. In all honesty, it's best to spay her. It will keep her from developing a pyometra as well as a pseudopregnancy, and it will keep her from getting pregnant if she accidentally mates. Dogs over the age of six should never have puppies. In my opinion, it's best for her to health to get spayed asap. I hope this helps!

Read More

I was advised by my daughter's dog trainer to contact a vet about my Yorkie's anxiety. She is 7 yo and 12 lbs. She started off scared of some fireworks in the neighborhood. Now it has progressed to even heavy rain. She keeps us up during storms because s she's so afraid and we can't console her. The trainer said a vet could try her on some trazadone. How can I get help with this?

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Ellie. I'm sorry she's having trouble with anxiety! Yes medications can help with anxiety, but she would need to see a vet in person to get the medication. We cannot provide a prescription for it from the site without seeing her in person; it's illegal, and against the user terms of the site. I recommend contacting her vet to make her an appointment to discuss the use of medication. A thundershirt may also help in conjunction with medication. You can buy them online, I also recommend looking at one of those. A tip to keep in mind when she is afraid is not to console her. It's natural to want to do that, but it actually reinforces the behavior. By consoling her, you are telling her it's ok to act this way. I hope this helps!

Read More

Florence has been suffering with vulva dermatitis for about 6 months now. We have tried antibiotics for both bacterial vaginitis and uti and it did not help. We also are bathing with medicated shampoo every 2-3 weeks. Still no help. She is living in a cone because otherwise she bites at it until the vulva is bleeding. I need help. We have tried new food as well, still no improvement. We have tried environmental allergy medications and no relief with that either. Any suggestions?

Hello thank you for using Boop by Petco. I'm sorry that Florence is having this issue. Has a skin scraping/cytology been done in that area? Has a urinalysis/urine culture been done or was she just prescribed antibiotics? Any radiographs (X-rays)? Is there discharge coming from the vulva? Bloodwork? Culture of the skin - maybe there is resistant bacteria there. It may not be bacterial, it may be yeast/fungal so antibiotics would not treat that - she would need antifungals (like oral ketoconazole). Also, this may not be a skin issue. The skin manifestation could be secondary and not the primary problem. Like she could have a urinary issue (like bladder stones) or even an autoimmune issue. Have her anal glands be checked? More testing needs to be done. If nothing can be found with the urinary system then I would recommend a skin biopsy and then treatment can be tailored based on those results. I'm sorry but I don't really have enough information to be that helpful. All I can recommend is more testing if you really want an answer. Otherwise you can keep changing and trying things with no resolution. You may also want to consult with a veterinary dermatologist if there is one in your area. In my opinion you are not bathing often enough. It should be done twice weekly and you need to be sure you are leaving the shampoo on for 10 minutes before rinsing. While waiting to get her back to your vet for more testing I would recommend the following: 1. Start her on an immune system support supplement: ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=133838 ) 2. On the days you are not bathing you can apply this medicated mousse to the area. You do not rinse it. Do it once daily. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=145608 ) I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Read More

Hi my dog Deogie has been biting and licking his paws and trying to literally pull off his toe nails like they itch or something and his paws are red and his nail bed is a light brown color. Can he have athletes foot? And can I use hydrocortisone cream or athletes foot spray? Please help it looks like it can be really annoying for my baby!!

Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question about Deogie. Poor guy sounds very uncomfortable! If he is biting and licking his paws a lot, that tells me he is quite itchy, and that is usually a sign of allergies. It's not a sign of a fungal infection, and it's not called athlete's foot in dogs, it's called ringworm. This is something that needs to be diagnosed by a vet in order for him to be treated correctly, and I would take him into a vet today or tomorrow. Until he sees a vet, put a cone on him to keep him from biting at his paws. You can buy one at a pet store if you don't have one at home already. I hope this helps!

Read More

I just moved to a new state 2 months ago and my cat has peed on my bed probably 9 times since. 3 times while I’m physically in bed trying to sleep. She used to pee on my bed before our move, whenever I’d be gone overnight somewhere. I’m not sure what to do. She’s 6 now and she’s been doing this since the pandemic. I haven’t tried anxiety meds yet and every vet visit I’ve had they say she’s healthy. I love her so much but I’m wondering if re-homing her is something I should consider.

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. A cat can be "healthy" and still have urination issues as you have described because the problem is behavioral and not medical. If it has been ruled out that she does not have any underlying medical conditions (kidney issues, bladder problems, UTI, etc) then you should try the behavioral modification medication. The medications work well and cats rarely have any side effects with their use. Please talk to your vet about this. This problem is not only stressful for you but also for Prune. And typically what happens is, if you rehome her, she will do the same behavior at the new person's house. Inevitably they get frustrated and they will rehome her and the cycle continues as she is passed from home to home. She may even end up at a shelter as unadaptable which in some shelters means euthanasia. Please don't do that to her and speak to your vet about medication. I can tell you love her very much and someone else may not feel the same about her. The medication is not expensive and typically is easy to administer. The medication does not usually change their attitude towards you or change their personality in any drastic way. It is an easy solution. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Read More

My 1 year old puppy was playing with our great dane early in the morning about a week ago. I was trying to do something in the house when i heard the puppy scream. I thought he had hurt his leg as he kept holding it up and all day wanting me to hold him..then he seemed to get better but didnt want to eat much and couldnt bark sounded more like a cry. But he would have bouts where he seemed normal..two days ago my husband found a big swelling or lump on the side of his neck

Thanks for visiting Boop by Petco. Oh no. Poor guy. This type of injury where you have vocalization, limping, and swelling definitely needs to be looked at by your veterinarian. A thorough physical exam of the area and potentially radiographs of the bones are needed here to provide the care that Stormy needs after an injury to this degree. I would highly recommend taking him in to be seen as soon as you can. You are not going to be able to care for an injury like this at home. For tonight, its best to just keep Stormy quiet in an isolated room without any other pets to disturb him and apply a cold compress to the swollen area, if tolerated, for about 3-5 mins. Using a bag of peas will suffice. I do hope that you are able to get Stormy some medical attention soon. Best of luck and take care.

Read More

image

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Filed Under

Sponsored