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My Cichlid is swimming in circles is she sick, should I be worried2007-11-24 23:39:03

I have a kenyi cichlid female and she has seriously been swimming in circles upside down and on her side all day. I don't know if she is sick or has eggs or if she is constipated. I recently changed her to a higher protein food and it may be that. If anybody knows please please please help. THANK YOU

Answers:

Of course, I don't know the situation exactly, but it sounds to me that she needs to burp. Litterally, they get to where their air bladder will not "drain" and yes, it can lead to death. All I know that you can do is buy some Stress-Coat to help her out with her coverage and maybe some Ick Medicine so she doesn't succumb to that while her immune system is down, and hope for the best.

Good Luck.

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she i bored, thats all

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maybe she wants to do donuts?

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maybe it's the swim bladder?

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Firstly, kenyi's are primarily herbivores ('vegetarian') and are best suited to low protein diets (35-40% protein content).

High levels of protein (45%+ protein content) can kill herbivore mbuna like kenyis since their digestive tract is very long (creating opportunities for blockages and intestinal infection).

They get what is known as the "Malawi bloat" and unless treated with proper meds (Clout or metronidazole) the fatality rate is quite substantial.

The fish may or may not be physically bloated but will pass white stringy waste. Treat with the one of the meds mentioned above (metronidazole is the least harsh) and discontinue feeding high protein foods to this particular species of cichlid.

Erratic and irregular swimming is not a good sign (may or may not be bloat related).

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she going to lay eggs soon.

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Sounds like internal gas bubble disease - locate some Diomox. She will die without it. This is normally caused by an infection so the fish may need antibiotics on top of the Diomox. This is literally an air pocket anywhere inside the body that will keep a fish bobbing just like you might expect something uncontrollably boyant to do.

Good luck!