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jellybean parrot chilids

23 14:47:27

Question
are they sick?  Why are they laying on their sides?  I have been doing water changes.
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Followup To

Question -
I have 3 chilids 1 blue,1pink, and 1 yellow.  they had ick and treated them accordingly.  All they do is stay at the back of the tank and lay on their sides and don't go anywhere.  What is wrong with them?

Answer -
Hi Becky,
 It can take a long time for them to recover.  Have you been doing regular partial water changes?  You need to change 20% of the water in the tank once a week, EVERY week to keep them happy and healthy.

 Also, the temperature in the tank should be roughly 80oF.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


Answer
Hi Becky,
  It's very hard to say without actually seeing them, but I can say that all is not right.  Assuming that the temperature is around 80oF or so, then that isn't the problem.  Much colder water than that, however, could be a big problem.  

  Also, assuming that you have been doing the weekly water changes it is unlikely that the water is in really bad shape.  

  It could still be ick.  A lot of people treat for ick for a day or two but it takes at least a week for the parasites to be gone and even then, they can linger.  Often when fish have ick they don't lie on their sides, rather they "sit" on the bottom with their fins clamped, but "sitting" upright.  Sadly, when fish actually lie on their sides, they seldom recover.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>