Female JD just sits at the bottom

[twohuskies]

I have a female JD, approximately 4 y/o. For several weeks, I noticed she stayed at the bottom of the tank. I thought she was being scared by 2 large tinfoils in the tank, so I rehomed them. No change with her, though.

I have moved her to a hospital tank and treated with Kanaplex at the suggestion of folks at the cichlid forum. It hasn't made a difference.

My observations:

1. She is pale. VERY pale for a JD. Like tan with hardly any blue at all.
2. One of her eyes has a "hollow" look to the pupil. The outside of the eye looks fine. It's just when I look inside, that the pupil looks a little cloudy and hollow. Hard to describe, but it's just not the solid black like the other eye. I've looked closely and can't see anything "moving" inside that would indicate parasites.
3. Her appetite is off. WAY off.
4. She moves around the tank, but seems slightly sight impaired. I've seen her bump into her cave.
5. I should also note that her top fin looks awful. She never fully developed that beautiful fin, so I think it is partially genetic. But, in some places, she has spikes where the finnage should be. As I said, she never fully developed that fin, so this may be her "normal". Her other fins are fine - no tears, rot, streaks, or missing finnage.

She is in a 20L hospital tank. I just got an order from fishyfarmacy, and have new Kanmycin, doxycycline, gentomycin, and tmp-sulfa at my disposal. I have treated with the tmp-sulfa for 5 days, with virtually no change.

I'm really stumped here. Water params are:

Hardness - 180
Alk - 180
Ph 7.8
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 20
Ammonia - 0

Could she have internal parasites or bloat? I've read a lot about bloat in Africans, but not in CA/SA cichlids. I've been treating with TMP-sulfa, but her appetite is still poor - zero.

Now I'm wondering if I should do a big WC, run some carbon, and treat for internal parasites?

I'm just stumped here...need help!

TIA for any suggestions...

[twohuskies]

Shameless bump of my own thread...I need some help here from the experts!

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease?!?!?!?!?!

[Tampafishman]

Pictures help a lot but I would treat for internal paracites. Jungle Paracite Clear is a good all around med to use for that. Raise Temp to 83-85F during treatment.



Love that huskey

[Yankeejack]

Agree with Tampa.

[twohuskies]

THANK YOU!!! Out of desperation, I started JPC over the weekend. I must say, I see a little improvement already. Sooooooo, I'm going to continue that treatment according to the package directions. Her color has improved, and that "hollow looking" pupil has improved as well. Her appetite is a teensy bit better, but definitely not where it should be.

Thanks for the responses and for the kind words about my husky. Of course, I think he's gorgeous, but I can't be objective!