Pink Convicts have Black spots.

[stunnaboy]

Hello i have 4 pink convict cichalids who have developed black spots on their bodies;possibly on the fins aswell. After doing research, black ich seemed likely so i got prazipro to treat, i have 60 gal and treated as accordingly, its been 4 days since initial treatment and the black spots seem to have stayed/ possibly more have surfaced. Can anyone help confirm if this indeed is black ich? Or is it some type of bacterial infection? They are all active and eating well, 1 has sunken belly and the others are slowly developing it. I first noticed the black spot on only one a month or 2 back but did not think anything of it (silly).

 

[blaxsun]

#fishmedic

 

[MnFish1]

so to my view you have a larger male #1. I see nothing n those pics except you circles. pic 2 looks like a samller male thats bettered
(tail). third one looks like an inured male or juvenile female. last one loos like a healthy female about to lay eggs.

 

[MnFish1]

black ich is a marine turbellarian infection... since this is a marine forum I have to admit I didnt research freshwater disease,

 

[MnFish1]

oh but ive had a ton of pink convicts

 

[ying yang]

If is black ich,would prazipro even be the correct medication ? As in saltwater prazi is for flukes isn't it ?
Unsure as only ever medicated one freahwater fish tank over decade ago and went terribly wrong pfft

 

[threebuoys]

I think I would just watch a while longer to confirm its not just pigmentation changes. I see changes of this nature on my lighter colored African Cichlids (dragon blood females particularly) frequently.

Prazipro can be used for freshwater too. Whether it works will depend on the species of fluke, which is about all I know. I have use it for more common varieties of flukes successfully.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hello i have 4 pink convict cichalids who have developed black spots on their bodies;possibly on the fins aswell. After doing research, black ich seemed likely so i got prazipro to treat, i have 60 gal and treated as accordingly, its been 4 days since initial treatment and the black spots seem to have stayed/ possibly more have surfaced. Can anyone help confirm if this indeed is black ich? Or is it some type of bacterial infection? They are all active and eating well, 1 has sunken belly and the others are slowly developing it. I first noticed the black spot on only one a month or 2 back but did not think anything of it (silly).

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I’ve never seen true black ich (turbellarians) on freshwater fish. They more often show digenean trematodes that have a cysted stage. Trouble is, that likely isn’t the issue either because those have multiple hosts (like a snail and a bird) so really are not seen except in freshly acquired pond raised fish.
Sorry, I’m not sure what this is…..

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Going back to my days of owning a pet store, I vaguely remember what was referred to as peppering on cichlids and was caused by too much Spirulina in their diet. If you are feeding much of diet containing spirulina, switch to meaty foods or meaty type pellet food.
Another corrective action is to increase water changes and add aquarium salt or epsom salt at one teaspoon per 10 gallons

 

[stunnaboy]

If is black ich,would prazipro even be the correct medication ? As in saltwater prazi is for flukes isn't it ?
Unsure as only ever medicated one freahwater fish tank over decade ago and went terribly wrong pfft

I talked to a fish store owner and was told that prazi pro would work on pink convicts with black ich/ they are freshwater fish

 

[stunnaboy]

Going back to my days of owning a pet store, I vaguely remember what was referred to as peppering on cichlids and was caused by too much Spirulina in their diet. If you are feeding much of diet containing spirulina, switch to meaty foods or meaty type pellet food.
Another corrective action is to increase water changes and add aquarium salt or epsom salt at one teaspoon per 10 gallons

Interesting, i have been feeding them “Sera san nature color flakes” and it does contain spirulina, i do have pellets for them aswell ; these do not contain spirulina, sounds like it might work.. i havent really fed them these as they are used to flakes, but i will try this out

 

[stunnaboy]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I’ve never seen true black ich (turbellarians) on freshwater fish. They more often show digenean trematodes that have a cysted stage. Trouble is, that likely isn’t the issue either because those have multiple hosts (like a snail and a bird) so really are not seen except in freshly acquired pond raised fish.
Sorry, I’m not sure what this is…..

Jay

I got a coconut shell from petsmart that contained a snail in it, obviously snail was removed but could it still contain the black ich? Someone else on this thread told me it may be because they are eating too much spirulina

 

[stunnaboy]

Your cichalids had these blackspots aswell but disappeared eventually? Someone said it might be cause they are fed food with too much spirulina.. any idea on this?

 

[stunnaboy]

If is black ich,would prazipro even be the correct medication ? As in saltwater prazi is for flukes isn't it ?
Unsure as only ever medicated one freahwater fish tank over decade ago and went terribly wrong pfft

Uhh i talked to a fish store owner and was told that prazipro would work on cichalids

so to my view you have a larger male #1. I see nothing n those pics except you circles. pic 2 looks like a samller male thats bettered
(tail). third one looks like an inured male or juvenile female. last one loos like a healthy female about to l

Interesting, i have been feeding them “Sera san nature color flakes” and it does contain spirulina, i do have pellets for them aswell ; these do not contain spirulina, sounds like it might work.. i havent really fed them these as they are used to flakes, but i will try this out

Also, how long do you recommend i treat the water with the salt?

 

[stunnaboy]

oh but ive had a ton of pink

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I’ve never seen true black ich (turbellarians) on freshwater fish. They more often show digenean trematodes that have a cysted stage. Trouble is, that likely isn’t the issue either because those have multiple hosts (like a snail and a bird) so really are not seen except in freshly acquired pond raised fish.
Sorry, I’m not sure what this is…..

Jay

What about the sunken belly? Usually a telltale sign of parasites no?

 

[stunnaboy]

I think I would just watch a while longer to confirm its not just pigmentation changes. I see changes of this nature on my lighter colored African Cichlids (dragon blood females particularly) frequently.

Prazipro can be used for freshwater too. Whether it works will depend on the species of fluke, which is about all I know. I have use it for more common varieties of flukes successfully.

I doubt its pigmentation changes as they are developing sunken belly..

 

[stunnaboy]

I got a coconut shell from petsmart that contained a snail in it, obviously snail was removed but could it still contain the black ich? Someone else on this thread told me it may be because they are eating too much spirulina

And that still wouldnt explain the sunken belly developing

 

[vetteguy53081]

Your cichalids had these blackspots aswell but disappeared eventually? Someone said it might be cause they are fed food with too much spirulina.. any idea on this?

Likely spirulina

 

[vetteguy53081]

And that still wouldnt explain the sunken belly developing

Pellets and flakes not total diet
They need krill, and other meaty foods

 

[MnFish1]

Pink convicts are a variant of convict cichlids - which are black and bluish. It does not complete surprise me that there are some blackish areas. Do they change? are the fish flashing, etc? Only one fish has a slightly sunken belly - which can mean a lot of things - most often bullying. in any case this article ay help:

Explorefishworld.com

EDIT - BTW - if you have gone through all the other steps they recommend treatment (and one of them is prazipro)