Question:I tested my water every thing is fine the ph is 8.2. ONe of my other cichlids isn't looking good right now either. I have been feeding them regular tropical flakes. Is there anything else I should look at to figure out why there dying?
Answers:
Edge,
When you say isn't looking good like what do you mean? Discoloration? Ragged fins? Body rot? Lethargic?
I think the problem isn't on diet, but seeing your temp went up to 90 for an unknown reason is a problem. That probably stressed them is what I am guessing, so you'll want to look into that. For now, add some stress coat, and give a small dose of salt to help them adjust from any damage done from that heat. Locate the source of the possible heat and take that out of the area.
The only other thing if it's not the heat, is they were fighting. What is the tank size? Are there mixed species in there?
JV
Get a full water tester (chlorine, ammonia, etc). Unnatural chemical content (other than pH) can cause fish to die.
Aren't cichlids meat eaters aren't they suppose to be eating small fish?
how bout temperature? i recently lost all but one of my cichlids due to excessive heat in my apartment, my heater sensor wasnt working or something and it wouldnt stop putting out heat even though it was over 85 degrees at room temp
I've had Malawi's in heat above 90, they're highly tolerent - but since this was an accident you have not made up for the lack of oxygen through extra surface and water movement, and they probably started sufficating - it's not the heat itself that kills them, but how the water can't hold as much O2. Tanganyikans on the other hand have very low heat tolerence and you wouldn't want the tank at much past 80.
'mixed africans' is very vague since they comprise an assortment of fish that differ in every possible way, but needless to say a typical tropical flake isn't ideal for them - it can get them by in a pinch, but it's not great. You're best off with a good quality cichlid pellet, and if you have the more herbivorous types, spriulina flake is really healthy for them. This isn't why your fish would up and die though.
And last, when you sit back and observe the tank (after they've forgotten you are watching) is there excessive aggression? Aggression can kill fish even if none are outwardly killed, because constantly harassed fish will eventually succumb to the stress. Aggression is not hard to come by with 'Africans', especially when you don't know what species you've got.
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