hap04 Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 I have a quick question I hope someone can help me with. I recently bought a semi-juvenile (approx 7cm) Copadichromis Azureus male, which has now grown a bit and is colouring up very nicely. One thing I've noticed though is that he has some random black markings/spots on it's dorsal fin which I don't think should be there. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera to post a photo. Are these likely a result of inbreeding of some sort? The other thing is I'd really like to know if they are likely to disappear (or not) once he matures and attains fully adult colouration. Thanks Hap04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnover Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 if your refering to what I think yo uare, its called 'Black Ich' get some Melafix and Primafix and dose it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazimbwe Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 hmmm...B4 Ya throw in a medication. It might be worth describing the diet the fish are on. Diet can have huge impact on the pigment of the fish...like Ps.saulosi that are fed on High spirulina diet, can develop quite a dirty look from black/dark markings. Is it only the one specimen that has the black markings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hap04 Posted September 13, 2004 Author Share Posted September 13, 2004 Yes, it's just the one fish and it really does not look like a parasite. The best way to describe it I think would be short black streaks in a couple of places on it's dorsal fin (I'm gonna have to invest in a digital camera one of these days!). And as far as it's condition goes it's a really healthy fish. And I've never had any parasites in my tank. Staple diet consists of Spirulina based flake and two types of pellet - NLS Cichlid formula and White Crane something or other (forget the actual name, the container is green/blue). As a treat they occasionally get frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms, and I also feed them chopped peas. The fish seems totally unaffected by it, but obviously I'd rather the markings weren't there as I've never seen any photos of a C. Azureus which has black streaks on it's dorsal fin. Many thanks for your replies. Cheers Hap04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazimbwe Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Staple diet consists of Spirulina based flake and two types of pellet - NLS Cichlid formula and White Crane something or other (forget the actual name, the container is green/blue). As a treat they occasionally get frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms, and I also feed them chopped peas. hmmm....I refuse to use the "White Budgie" food on my fish so my help may be of little use to you. Not using the diet you are I can not say if diet is the cause of the black marking. However, you are using a colour-enhancing food which may be effecting the fishes dorsal colouration. There are other issues to consider about the, one particular, food you are feeding your fish but I would be removing that from their diet and seeing if there is a change, over the next 6 weeks, to the dorsal colouration. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hap04 Posted September 13, 2004 Author Share Posted September 13, 2004 Mazimbwe, any chance you could fill me in on your reasons for avoiding the "White Budgie" food? Only reason I use it is that it was recommended to me by someone at a LFS (I hadn't heard of it before then), so if there is a good reason not to use it then I'll definitely stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Black markings or blotches which I understand are probably melanin (pigment) defects. Fairly common with tropheus - they do go away with time As Maz said, spirulina can also cause this on varied species Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnover Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Bloodworms may be your issue, I have found higher protein foods cause problems with colouration and my elec yellows used to go dark in the face if I fed them a higher protein pellet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazimbwe Posted September 13, 2004 Share Posted September 13, 2004 Hap04, if ya have a look around some of the older posts/threads you will find quite a bit of discussion about the effects of using the product you mentioned. There are many and varied thoughts about the good/bad aspects of it. I choose not to use it as it makes fish look, IMO, abnormal in colouration...like they would glow after the lights go off. But that is my choice and I encourage you to make your own. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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