possible sick/injured fish

Hi, I had got this yellow lad about 6 weeks ago, when I had got him, he had always bashed/dived into the sand/gravel.
I had just thought this was normal,
a few of the other fish have started doing it the odd time also, not sure if they were doing what he was doing
anyway. the yellow fish just done about 6/7 serious bashes there, and now I notice his fin at his gill doesn't move anymore, its flush with his body
I have attached pictures, eh must of just hurt it as I was watching him
can anyone advise what to do/give?
pics attached thanks

ttp://tinypic.com/r/37bck/6
tinypic.com/r/23usegk/6
tinypic.com/r/wbrjoz/6

What do you mean dives into the sand? Does he scratch up against anything?
Any redness on him anywhere?

yea he would like swim/rub into the sand/gravel and bounce back up, like as if he is trying to scrath/itch around his gills
there is no redness around him, like he has always done it since i got him, but then about a week later I noticed two of the smaller fish doing it also. a few of them seem to be doing it now, must be some weird disease with them?
none of them have any visible marks on them?

I just re-read my first post, had a typo
its supposed to be this "I notice his fin at his gill doesn't move anymore, its flush with his body"

hi lenny, from what u say ur fish has white spot, but the pics of him dont show any white spots on his body, looks like grains of salt on the body.if it was me id treat the tank with esha exit, ive used it in the past and its fast working.hope this helps u.

Hi Lenny,how is the fishes fins today?.
The other behaviour seems normal,'diving' into the sand and rubbing(scratching) itself of the substrate and rock,ornaments etc. is there way of 'trying' to mark there territory.

Ger

That's what I was thinking Paul, but without the spots id also query a few other illnesses! However most of these are easily treated with Malachite and other similar products!just be careful with the likes of malachite as its more of a pond treatment and can be very very strong! I think I used 5ml to treat 190 litre tank recently and that was enough! From talking to other keepers, it seems like Esha exit would be a less intense treatment also!
Be careful with treatments as some contain formaldehyde which can be very dangerous if used wrongly or too strongly

lenny wrote:

Hi, I had got this yellow lad about 6 weeks ago, when I had got him, he had always bashed/dived into the sand/gravel.
I had just thought this was normal,
a few of the other fish have started doing it the odd time also, not sure if they were doing what he was doing
anyway. the yellow fish just done about 6/7 serious bashes there, and now I notice his fin at his gill doesn't move anymore, its flush with his body
I have attached pictures, eh must of just hurt it as I was watching him
can anyone advise what to do/give?
pics attached thanks

ttp://tinypic.com/r/37bck/6
tinypic.com/r/23usegk/6
tinypic.com/r/wbrjoz/6

If you're water parameters are good, this sounds like the fish are 'flashing' - quickly darting off the gravel or objects in the tank. My money is on gill fluke if water is ok. Treat the tank with kusuri wormer plus. Hope this helps. Brian

Thanks for the replys!
I have read up on that gill fluke and I think it could be that
the fishes fin is still at his side today, but he CAN use it Ive seen him/her using it today and then going back to not using it
Which would be the best and safe treatment to start off so i can narrow it down?
there is 4 different "esha" one seahorse, which one should I go with?
also on another question. how often should I change the carbon in my fluval 306?

lenny wrote:

Thanks for the replys!
I have read up on that gill fluke and I think it could be that
the fishes fin is still at his side today, but he CAN use it Ive seen him/her using it today and then going back to not using it
Which would be the best and safe treatment to start off so i can narrow it down?
there is 4 different "esha" one seahorse, which one should I go with?
also on another question. how often should I change the carbon in my fluval 306?

Not breathing from one gill and having fin clamped over it is a good sign of gill fluke. Kusuri wormer plus is a great product for the treatment. This is for sale at SH and I'm sure many other sponsors. Make sure to remove carbon from your filter when treating with any medication.

Praziquantel is also very good for fluke but prescription. A flubenzadole med like kusuri does the job and I've never had any issue with this med.

Gonefishy wrote:

lenny wrote:

Thanks for the replys!
I have read up on that gill fluke and I think it could be that
the fishes fin is still at his side today, but he CAN use it Ive seen him/her using it today and then going back to not using it
Which would be the best and safe treatment to start off so i can narrow it down?
there is 4 different "esha" one seahorse, which one should I go with?
also on another question. how often should I change the carbon in my fluval 306?

Not breathing from one gill and having fin clamped over it is a good sign of gill fluke. Kusuri wormer plus is a great product for the treatment. This is for sale at SH and I'm sure many other sponsors. Make sure to remove carbon from your filter when treating with any medication.

Praziquantel is also very good for fluke but prescription. A flubenzadole med like kusuri does the job and I've never had any issue with this med.

a prescription only medicine for fish?! would ya have to bring the fish to a vet to get it?!

I will go down tomorrow and get that product,
I also have an internal fluval U4 filter, I don't there is no bags of carbon on that filter? just wondering is the carbon the black "sheet" on tha filter?
delighted with all the help I get on this forum - really are a helpful bunch!

** edit
on reading the kusuri it says its for discus? I have malawi cichlids is it ok for them?

It's perfect for them. Always look for the active ingredient in meds as opposed to its branding...

ok got the stuff, done a water change first. removed the carbon fron the two filters
I had a precision scales here so measured out about 0.44Grams.
I'll feed them lighty for the few days
I'll give them another treatment on thursday also. I will update!

Sorry lads i just read all this thread again and what makes you think your fish is sick and needs medication?.....It's behaviour is perfectly normal for Malawi Cichlids,i can't see anywhere were you said it can't breathe from one gill,nowhere did you say it's gasping for air,nowhere did you say it's lethargic,not eating etc.,....i'm just curious as to what basis your medicating your tank?.
All i got from you in this thread is a picture of what looks like a healthy fish that might of bashed a fin a bit.......Sorry if you think i'm out of line but i'm a bit bemused as to why your doing this!

Please feel free to correct me if i missed something,cheers

Ger