As the popularity of keeping cichlids continues to climb, the number of people reaching out and asking for advice on the various problems that they have with their fish also increases.
We have noticed a wide range of different questions being asked from the fish keeping community in recent weeks but for today’s article, we are going to be taking a look at why you have black spots on your African cichlids.
Now, unlike some of the other problems that we have seen people have with their cichlids, there are actually a number of different potential problems that you may end up causing your African cichlids to have black spots.
Due to this, we want to take a look at the most common potential problems that you may have with your fish to try and make sure that you are able to consider all possibilities.
Why You Have Black Spots On Your African Cichlids!
We have our list of the more common reasons that you may have black spots on your African cichlids below:-
- Poor Breeding Lines!
- Poor Water Parameters!
- Natural Pigmentation!
- Fungal Infection!
- Bacterial Infection!
- Dirty Water!
- Low Quality Diet!
- Cancer!
- Stress And Anxiety!
- Parasitic Infection!
- Injury!
In some situations, you may actually be having problems with multiple issues from the list above though so keep that in mind rather than just focusing on one single potential problem.
We will now be taking a more detailed look into these potential problems as well as what to look for in your fish to better identify each one.
Poor Breeding Lines!
While it is not as common of an issue as some of the other potential problems on this list, in some situations you may actually have black spots on your African cichlids due to poor breeding lines.
Since the popularity of African cichlids took off a couple of years back, a number of breeders have been doing anything it takes to meet the demand and this includes breeding some of their cichlids that have defects and other desirable traits that more reputable breeders will leave out of their breeding lines.
This commonly results in your fish having a number of different health problems which in turn can also lead to them being more susceptible to infections and parasites.
In some cases, you may actually be able to see these black spots on your African cichlids from when they are very young.
If this is something that you have noticed with your fish, then it is important to try and track down where you got them from so that you can avoid supporting any bad breeding practices.
Poor Water Parameters!
One of the most common reasons that you may have black spots on your African cichlids is actually due to poor water parameters.
This can often be a result of not having enough filtration for your tank or not doing regular water changes which in turn can lead to a build up of toxins in your water.
This build up of toxins can then lead to your fish getting sick which can cause a number of different problems including black spots on their fins and body.
If you think that poor water parameters may be the reason that you have black spots on your African cichlids, then the first thing that you need to do is check your water quality.
You can do this by using a water testing kit which will give you a good idea of what levels of toxins are present in your water.
If you find that your water quality is not up to par, then you need to take action to correct it as soon as possible.
This usually involves doing a large water change and/or upgrading your filtration system.
Natural Pigmentation!
In some cases, the black spots on your African cichlids may actually be due to their natural pigmentation.
This is something that you will usually see in wild caught fish as they have had to adapt to their environment over time.
If you have noticed that the black spots on your African cichlids seem to be more pronounced when they are stressed or in poor water conditions, then this is a good indicator that their pigmentation is the cause.
There is not really anything that you can do to treat this problem other than making sure that your fish are in good water conditions and that they are not stressed.
Fungal Infection!
Another common reason that you may have black spots on your African cichlids is due to a fungal infection.
This is usually the result of your fish being in poor water conditions which then allows the fungus to take hold.
If you think that your fish may have a fungal infection, then you will need to treat them as soon as possible.
The first thing that you need to do is check their water quality and if it is not up to par, then you need to take action to correct it.
You also need to treat your fish with a good quality anti-fungal medication.
You can usually find this at your local pet store or online.
Bacterial Infection!
Another common reason for black spots on African cichlids is due to a bacterial infection.
This is usually the result of your fish being in poor water conditions which then allows the bacteria to take hold.
If you think that your fish may have a bacterial infection, then you will need to treat them as soon as possible.
The first thing that you need to do is check their water quality and if it is not up to par, then you need to take action to correct it.
You also need to treat your fish with a good quality anti-bacterial medication.
You can usually find this at your local pet store or online.
Dirty Water!
Dirty water is different from poor water parameters as it generally refers to water that has large amounts of detritus, left over food, algae, and other sources of decaying matter in it.
Although this will eventually result in poor water parameters in your tank, you can usually avoid it getting worse by simply removing the decaying matter from your tank once per week as a part of your weekly tank maintenance.
It doesn’t take long for the effects of the dirty water to cause problems with your African cichlids and in come cases, this can be enough to cause your fish to have problems with black spots starting to form on them.
Low Quality Diet!
Another common reason for black spots on African cichlids is due to them not getting a high enough quality diet.
This is usually the result of your fish being fed a diet that is not nutritionally complete or one that contains a lot of fillers and artificial ingredients.
If you think that your fish are not getting a high enough quality diet, then you need to take action to correct it as soon as possible.
The first thing that you need to do is switch to a high quality cichlid food that is nutritionally complete and does not contain any fillers or artificial ingredients.
You can usually find this at your local pet store or online.
Cancer!
In some rare cases, the black spots on your African cichlids may be due to cancer.
This is usually the result of your fish being in old age or having a weakened immune system.
If you think that your fish may have cancer, then you need to take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Only a professional will be able to properly diagnose and treat your fish.
Stress And Anxiety!
In some cases, the black spots on your African cichlids may be due to stress and anxiety.
This is usually the result of your fish being in a new environment or having a change in their routine.
If you think that your fish are stressed or anxious, then you need to take action to correct it as soon as possible.
The first thing that you need to do is try to make their environment as stress-free as possible.
This means providing them with plenty of hiding places, using calm lighting, and avoiding loud noises.
You also need to make sure that their routine is not changed too much and that they are getting plenty of rest.
Parasitic Infection!
In some cases, the black spots on your African cichlids may be due to a parasitic infection.
This is usually the result of your fish being in poor water conditions which then allows the parasites to take hold.
If you think that your fish may have a parasitic infection, then you will need to treat them as soon as possible.
The first thing that you need to do is check their water quality and if it is not up to par, then you need to take action to correct it.
You also need to treat your fish with a good quality anti-parasitic medication.
You can usually find this at your local pet store or online.
Injury!
In some cases, the black spots on your African cichlids may be due to an injury.
This is usually the result of your fish being in a fight with another fish or hitting something in their tank.
Keep monitoring your tank for signs of aggression between the fish but with most types of African cichlid being so aggressive, it can be difficult to deal with injuries between the fish in many tank setups.
