Black Spots

[Jess Puff]

Here are some pics and a video. They're not raised and they look like ink spots.

[b0caj1985]

its a parsite called spirlunia spots im not sure what i the best cure is for it ive heard Copper salts is good but that will lower your ph so i would just use Salt my self but i haven't owned alot of Africans but i thought id help where i could

[Jess Puff]

Thanks... I've added some salt. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for your advice. Does anyone else have any experience with this problem in cichlids?

[allierw]

I've seen posts about it on the cichlid-forum. From what most people say it isn't harmful like ich. You could try feeding an anti-parasite food.

[jon carman]

i wouldnt worry about it unless it gets worse. i have had fish have them before and it never seemed to affect them. i guess only reason i might treat is to keep other fish from getting it. but at the same time i dont know enough about it to know if it spreads.

[Jess Puff]

Well, I haven't noticed any problems with them so I guess I'll just leave it alone. I just like for my fish to look "pretty" and they don't with all the ugly spots on them. HAHA! I know... I'm being a girl.

[Jess Puff]

Good news! I added a few more decorations to the tank for hiding places and it seems to be helping. One of my cichlids that had quite a few black spots now only has about 1 or 2. I'm thinking this was totally related to stress.

[glenoweth]

I have one fish with it. I thought it was old age or something lol the fish is like 4 years old. I only noticed it on him and he is always stresses out but, to aggressive to put with other fish so he solo in a tank,and try's to attack the other fish through the glass lol...causing the stress he inflicts on him self. Is ur tank inside the house or in a garage?

[glenoweth]

What I think is odd, is that they all get it under their mouth!

[Jess Puff]

Yea.. mine are all males together in a 75 gallon tank inside the house. I have one that just is a terror and I'm about to move him to another tank so hopefully it'll calm down some. But since I added the extra decorations, it seems to have helped quite a bit.

It's really weird that it's always under the mouth; however, I've had a couple get spots on their sides/tail. It's a really weird thing but I guess I don't have to worry too much about it because it seems pretty normal from what I've been reading. Some cichlids are just more susceptible than others.... it seems.

[glenoweth]

kool, if these 2 males i got keep attacking everything they might find themselves in the subdivision pond. this is why i dont have malawin cichlids any more.

[ree123]

What difference is the house and the garage ? Just curious what you are thinking.
Wish you would elaborate a bit more on this.
Thanks

[glenoweth]

well because my tank was out side in the fish room i was building, so I thought maybe their was a parasite from outside.

[glenoweth]

Now that you posted this i swear I am seeing another small fish with them. one of my multies that i moved to the outside tank. Odd never seen it before untill you posted this lol....

[Jess Puff]

Bummer... I may have jinxed you... sorry about that!