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: 6/17/2008 Subject: red devil fish
Question QUESTION: We have 2 red devil fish that friends gave us when they moved out of state. They came with a 75 gallon tank with a Plexiglass divider because they fight. The male knocked the divider out of place last night or this morning and I found them together and she was in very rough shape. I secured the divider and she is moving around a bit better since this morning. Her scales are pretty damaged and one side fin doesn't seem to be working. It seems that when they are stressed they don't eat. She usually comes to the surface almost jumping for food, but it looks like she can't or won't swim to the surface. I tried giving her some food that sinks, and she looked like she wanted to get it but possibly couldn't. I have been trying to find a shelter of some kind to put in the tank for her to hide in, but cannot find one big enough for her. None of the pet stores I have been have anything except REALLY big things that cost a fortune. Is there anything I can do for her now that they are separated? Is it possible for her fin to heal so she can use it again? If it doesn't and if that is why she doesn't have mobility, how can I feed her. We have never had fish and I am learning as I go. Thank you.
PS She seems to be the one to start the fights when they get together, he almost ignores her for a bit and then goes after her. They do try to fight through the Plexiglass.
Thank you again.
ANSWER: Hi CM,
The good news is that these are very tough fish and can recover from some very impressive wounds. The key is to make sure that the male doesn't knock down the divider again.
One thing that works really well as a shelter is a large clay flowerpot. Ideally, knock the bottom out of it. Do not use an old one. Get a new one so that it doesn't have any chemicals/pesticides/fertilizers in it. Lay it on its side.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
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QUESTION: After submitting my question, I went through other responses and found something about salt. When I got the fish, and a smaller cichlid came with them and is in a smaller tank with another- an African cichlid- I visited and called numerous pet and fish stores. They all told me to add aquarium salt and I think I read in your answers not to do this. They also told me to clean the tank every 4 weeks- and people are writing you mentioning PH measurements which I know nothing about- I think I have gotten the wrong information? Any suggestions or sites you can recommend for me to learn from with reliable information? Thank you again. Oh- should I be worried about Matilda- the beat up Red Devil- not eating?
Thank you- CM
ANSWER: Hi CM,
There is no reason to add salt to a tank with a red devil in it.
Cleaning a tank every 4 weeks is waaaaay too infrequent. You should never "clean a tank thoroughly". You are much better to do partial water changes once a week, every week. Really cleaning a tank disrupts the biology of the tank and you don't want to do that.
A red devil can go a long time -- many weeks -- without eating so I wouldn't worry about that. Far more important is to make sure that if you offer her food and she doesn't eat it, that you remove the food so that it does not sit in the tank and rot. Rotting food will kill her.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
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QUESTION: Ron, Now Matilda has fuzzy white stuff on her injured areas. A pet store said to get some fungus control and add it to the water. The closest pet store has Fungas Eliminator- is that safe and effective to use?
Answer Hi CM,
The fuzzy white stuff is fungus and it is a secondary infection in the wound. A product such as Fungus Eliminator is a good way to go.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
