Chichlid

Question
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Followup To
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Followup To
Question -
I have a large blue chichlid, not sure what kind or sex.  He is in a 55 gallon tank that I keep clean and he is well fed.  He has been jumping almost out of the water, hitting the sides of the tank and quivering.  I recently treated him for mouth fungus and he seems fine.  Why would he be so "wild".  There are two small white chichlids, two mollies and, 3 black cat fish in the tank also.  
Answer -
Hi Darlene,
 Have you been doing regular water changes?  You should be changing about 10-20% of the water EVERY week in that tank.

No I have not, but I do have double filters and clean them weekly.  Also add water weekly.  The water is clear and the other fish do not act strangly.  Could it be looking for a mate?

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

Answer -
Hi Darlene,
  The filters only do part of the job.  You absolutely have to do regular water changes or the levels of dissolved ammonia in the tank will eventually get very toxic.  Adding water doesn't solve this -- that only makes up for evaporation.  

  Some fish are more sensitive to ammonia than others and may explain why the one is acting so wildly. Of course it may also be some other cause, but nonetheless, you really need to do the water changes or sooner or later you will regret it.

  The quivering can be a sign of courtship but it can also be a sign of impending disease.  Look very carefully to see if the fish has little tiny white spots on it -- sort of like a dusting of icing sugar.  That would be a disease called ich and is often a result of poor water quality.  
The fish thrashes around in an attempt to scrape off the parasites.  

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

Thank you so much.  I do change half of the water every 30 days, suck out the bottom of the tank, and scrub the sides.  I also have double bio filters that may have given me a false sense of security in reference to the ammonia.  I have added ick away to my water and will start changing the water as you recommended.  Thank you again for your assistance.

Answer
Hi Darlene,

 Your fish will be much better off if you change less water at a time, but do it more often. That way they have cleaner water and less shock when you change it.

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