Topic: eroded tails

[caryl]

    Two of my cichlids have tails that look chewed down Is this a disease I need to treat? Sorry, no camera

[callen]

It would help a great deal if we had more info. 

Tank size?
Tank mates?
Water conditions(pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, temp)?
Filtration?
Last water change and how much?
What do you feed?
What kind of fish?
Any aggression?

The more we know the better we can help.  To answer your question...It could be a few things, like fungus, other tank mates nibbling or poor water quality.  Does the chewed down part look fuzzy?

[Gerry]

A picture would help too

[caryl]

    They live in a tank with about 100 other fish. 140 gl. Mostly baby cichlids. I change the water half way down e every other week. They eat a variety of foods. I never see anyone chewing on them. No, it's not fuzzy, it's pink and worn down looking. When I pour melafix in the tank they seem to like it and stay right there. They don't act sick at all.

[callen]

Well with that many fish you are bound to get nibblers.  As long as it's not infected I would not worry.  Keeping the water as pristine as possible will help with that.

[Gerry]

That's a lot of fish for the size of tank and will lead to tail nipping

[caryl]

    I know there's a lot of fish in there. They keep having babies I need to open a fish store!!!! I feed them well, so I know they're not hungry. They have so many houses to hide in too. They love frozen mussels and algae chips besidesevery thing else they get. Should I keep putting a little melafix in daily?

[Gerry]

it will be fin biting to try and fix pecking orders, just keep the water good and try and get your lfs to take some for store credit 

I wouldn't daily dose with melafix

[Stormbringer]

i would dose as per directions on the bottle