Cichlid Wasting Away
Tuesday August 19, 2008
"One of my yellow labs, I have had him since the beginning - about 4 years, is growing more and more thin with an increasingly curved spine. Doing a water change today it really struck me how sunken in his belly now is. It has been a very slow decline so I have not really taken much notice until now. But tonight I watched him eat, thinking maybe he is too passive but it's not that. Rather he gets to the food fine eats it but then spits it out a couple minutes later... he doesn't seem to digest anything and I think he is slowly starving to death. "
Photo © Leah2296
Comments
Most likely bloat gut. It is very common in this type of cichlid. It is caused when a parasite (which are found naturally) manages to grow too large and blocks the digestive system (very basic description)
Make sure you are not feeding foods that are too high in protein.
Sorry, but it is probably too late for your buddy. I hate to see it. There are some cures involving various types of baths, but it must be detected very early on.
This may be genetic.
In one case I know of a Chichlid had actually swallowed small gravel that had lodged and could not take in whole food. It was surviving on any small food paticles getting through and So that maybe a posibility in this case. Just a thought