As discussed here: https://apistogramma.com/forum/threads/some-apistogrammas-from-peru.24724/page-2#post-119255, I recently got 4 Apistogramma "ladislao" - supposedly 2 pairs, at any rate 2 definite males and two much smaller ones that are meant to be females but might not be. Along with them came a little agassizii that I didn't order. I have had them just over two weeks and recently I moved the agassizii to another tank as it was chasing the smaller ones and being chased by the dominant male. I was also thinking of moving one of the males that was always getting chased, but now I think something is wrong with them, and I do not want to risk my other tanks in case they have some kind of disease or parasite. They looked really good until a few days ago when I noticed the dominant male was no longer displaying and chasing the others from the place he was usually defending, and all of them have clamped fins. I have seen one of the males flashing a couple of times and at times he seemed to be swimming a little erratically, like shaking his body, but not all of the time. They are all eating brine shrimps eagerly but ignoring bug bites, vibra bites and a softer vitalis food I have tried, though they did seem to take an interest in the bug bites and vitalis initially. The agassizii seems totally fine and will eat anything I have tried.
The tank they are in is 175 litres but is not filled to the top as only the Apistogrammas are in there, the footprint is 70 x 50cm. I used river sand and branches and twigs from the river (same as I have in my other tanks) to create barriers and hiding spots, but such that it would not be difficult to remove as I knew I would have to catch fish before long. I also added leaf litter, not almond leaves but ones collected locally, the same type I have in my other tanks. I used filter material and a pre-filter sponge from the other tanks and added a load of water lettuce to be safe. There is a little peat in the filter (same peat as in two other tanks). GH is 1, KH 0-1, TDS 39. I don't know the pH as my liquid test has run out and the cheap meter I got is no good. But out of the tap it was usually around 6.8 using the liquid test (that I know is not reliable in soft water). I have also run out of nitrate test but I am sure they are not high as there are only very few small fish in the tank and some of the water lettuce leaves are going yellow. There is no ammonia. I have done some water changes, adding new water gradually in case the pH is different to the tap water.
Now I am not sure what to do and would appreciate any advice.I do have some Paraguard but am nervous of using chemicals and reluctant to add anything that might make the situation worse.
The tank they are in is 175 litres but is not filled to the top as only the Apistogrammas are in there, the footprint is 70 x 50cm. I used river sand and branches and twigs from the river (same as I have in my other tanks) to create barriers and hiding spots, but such that it would not be difficult to remove as I knew I would have to catch fish before long. I also added leaf litter, not almond leaves but ones collected locally, the same type I have in my other tanks. I used filter material and a pre-filter sponge from the other tanks and added a load of water lettuce to be safe. There is a little peat in the filter (same peat as in two other tanks). GH is 1, KH 0-1, TDS 39. I don't know the pH as my liquid test has run out and the cheap meter I got is no good. But out of the tap it was usually around 6.8 using the liquid test (that I know is not reliable in soft water). I have also run out of nitrate test but I am sure they are not high as there are only very few small fish in the tank and some of the water lettuce leaves are going yellow. There is no ammonia. I have done some water changes, adding new water gradually in case the pH is different to the tap water.
Now I am not sure what to do and would appreciate any advice.I do have some Paraguard but am nervous of using chemicals and reluctant to add anything that might make the situation worse.