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About Ron 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 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. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience
I am an Assistant Professor 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.

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

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > Malawi Cichlid problem

Fish - Malawi Cichlid problem

Expert: Ron Coleman - 11/7/2009

Question
Hi, I have a 200 gallon malawi tank, I have problems with fish flicking, I have treated with malachite twice with the recommended dose to no avail, there are a few fish that sit all quiet with fins clamped flicking and looking like they are trying to expel something from their mouth. These treatments did no good as the fish kept flicking and looking miserable, the majority of the fish are fine, some flicking but still the same few are not well, I tried more than the stated dose but no difference, I am having fish dying and I dont seem to be able to do anything about it. I am not doing these treatments close together, I am leaving approx 4 weeks between treatments, I change 35 - 40% of water every 3 weeks and am at a loss as to why I cant get rid of whatever it is, I have been plagued by this problem for far too long, can you help me!!

Answer
Hi Martyn,
Chronic deaths in Malawi fishes are tricky. I have encountered the same thing myself and not come to any great answers. Malachite works if the culprit is ick, but if it were ick, they wouldn't last that long, i.e., they would either die or get better within a week or a couple of weeks at most. It may be a gill issue and those are really hard to diagnose and treat unfortunately.

I would suggest that you increase your water changes to about 25%, once a week, every week, just as a general maintenance schedule.

-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

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