A jewel cichlid with a unique black facial marking

[VeteranBreeder]

I've had a dark patch show up on my jewel cichlid's face about a week ago, it's a straight line running down the front, past his eye. Should I be concerned? I do a 50% water change every Sunday, but I'll admit I was busy with work and skipped it for four extra days before this happened.

[coltin]

"Chemical burns are likely the culprit here. Not much you can do at this point, but going forward, make sure to prioritize tank water quality and ensure any new water you add is free of chemicals like chlorine or chloramine. This will help prevent any further damage."

[willie32]

Another possibility could be nerve damage, likely from fighting. It's not something you can really treat, it might resolve on its own or it might be permanent.

[VeteranBreeder]

I'm wondering if it's possible to overdo it with the tap conditioner. I switched brands recently and the new one's got a higher concentration, pretty sure I got the dosage right though.

[VeteranBreeder]

Another possibility could be nerve damage, likely from fighting. It's not something you can really treat, it might resolve on its own or it might be permanent.

My green terror and electric blue acara have basically taken over one side of the tank, they've even had some fry, maybe my jewel cichlid got too close for comfort.

[coltin]

I've had a dark patch show up on my jewel cichlid's face about a week ago, it's a straight line running down the front, past his eye. Should I be concerned? I do a 50% water change every Sunday, but I'll admit I was busy with work and skipped it for four extra days before this happened.

Overdosing on tap conditioner is definitely possible, but you'd need to add an excessive amount - we're talking at least 10 times the recommended dose.

It's not uncommon for water companies to increase chlorine and chloramine levels after maintenance work on the pipes. They do this to ensure the water is sanitized, but it can be disastrous for aquariums. If you happen to do a water change within 24-48 hours of the work being done, your fish might be in trouble. In some cases, they might even develop those dreaded black marks. Fortunately, these marks usually clear up within a month.

One thing to keep in mind is that water companies aren't obligated to notify you about pipe maintenance. Some of them might even increase chlorine and chloramine levels during hot weather or when dealing with dam water after heavy rainfall.

[VeteranBreeder]

"Chemical burns are likely the culprit here. Not much you can do at this point, but going forward, make sure to prioritize tank water quality and ensure any new water you add is free of chemicals like chlorine or chloramine. This will help prevent any further damage."

Thanks for the info, pretty sure I didn't overdo it that much. Not sure if our water companies do the same thing here in the UK, but hopefully the mark will clear up on its own.