AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 6/9/2008 Subject: Firemouth Cichlids
Question Hi Ron,
We have 5 Firemouth Cichlids and 2 have them have spawn and we now notice fry at the bottom of the tank. The Parents have been guarding the fry ,so they are very aggressive against the other 3. I now notice that 2 of the Cichlids now have torn fins. They all seem to be eating and swimming normally. Is there a way to treat the injury?(so it does not go into fin rot) We currently have a 60 gal tank. Please advise on the best thing to do?
Also we plan on letting mother nature takes it course on the fry's.
Thank you,
Judy
Answer Hi Judy,
No it won't turn into fin rot but the parents will probably continue to attack the other fish. The best thing to do would be to make sure that there are tons of plants/wood/rock etc so the non-parents have a place to hide and heal.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
