Viejita Acting Strange

[Hippie_Cichlid]

I have a pair of viejita apistos that I've had since September. They've been doing their mating dance for months but in the past few days the female has been much more subdued (not chasing the dither fish, mellow, etc), and laying on the gravel. She still responds to food and when I approach the tank she will investigate. The male has been a bit more aggressive, but otherwise normal. Their colors are also normal in both fish.

I have a heavily planted tank with plenty of areas to hide in, including a cave for them. I also have cherry shrimp for them to have the fry. I also have purple rasboras, minnows, 2 striped danios (cause I couldn't catch them), and recently (2 weeks ago) added a pleco. None of these fish are expressing any stress or illness.

I've tested the water for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and ph, all are within normal levels. I did a 10% water change today.

Does anyone know if this behavior is normal? Or have any advice/suggestions. I've added a picture of this behavior, the female is on the left and the male on the right.

 

[gerald]

First, those are macmasteri, not viejita. Nearly all pet shops and even many breeders sell macmasteri as "viejita". Laying on the gravel is not a good sign; she may be sick. Watch out for faster-than-normal breathing, excess mucus in her feces (stringy white poo), abdominal bloating, and signs of lumps or sores on the head or body. Good luck - i hope she recovers.

 

[Mike Wise]

If she is still eating I'd soak her favorite food in a good broad-spectrum antibiotic and feed it to her. Now is a good time to move her to a hospital/quarantine tank.