Need help with African Cichlids

[Nate22]

Sorry for the long post. I have African Cichlids and when I got home I noticed 1 of them was at the top of the tank and was REALLY fat and breathing very heavy(like a panting dog) and still is hrs later. I gently cupped the fish in my hand without squeezing it and he/she got startled and a brownish/cream colored substance came out of the back end. It came out of the hole closest to the tail. Idk what 1 its called as I'm still learning. The whole area is swollen and looks to be sore. (No open wounds) however there's something red in color that seems to be at the edge(inside) of the hole closest to the anal fin. Could it have been undeveloped eggs coming out or is the fish in extreme danger. I tried getting a pic but couldn't catch the fish close enough to the front glass. No 1 seems to be bothering it other than the same breed/type. (I have 2 of the same) The color is like coffee but with EXTRA creamer. I've caught the fish and have it in a breeding box for the night unless I see others attacking it. I have a 20 gal I can move it to if needed. Currently have 2 others in it for treatment of damaged fins.(fin nipping from others) please any information on what this could possibly be would help out so much. Oh he/she eats fine and has been going to the bathroom fine. Haven't seem any poo activity tonight thought.  

Edited May 19, 2022 by Nate22

[Nate22]

I was told they might be Johnstoni Cichlids. They have no bright colors. Gold with random black strips

[Colu]

Is it possible it's holding fry in it mouth or is a male 

[Brian]

Slow down.  I don’t recommend ever squeezing a fish gently or otherwise.  I have never needed to do this in 50 plus years of fish keeping.  Also I feel I’m not medically or otherwise qualified to do so.  Could this fish be bullied?  When they are bullied they will try to get as far away as possible.  Also with the added stress and possible fin damage a fish can have elevated or rapid breathing.  PVC pipe as hiding a place can do wonders.  I use several located in the tank of different sizes.  You can use string or fishing line to suspend them at the surface.  I   Like fishing line, draped over the tank.  And if you want get the split shot weights used for fishing attached to the ends hanging over the tank to help keep them suspended at or near the surface.  Also break the sight lines (out of sight, out the mind).  
Also when adding new African Cichlids, try when possible to add them trios.  
if hold eggs the buccal cavity will be enlarged.  This is the lower jaw.  
could it be a Melanochromis auratus?

[Nate22]

Thank you both for the fed back. This morning It was laying on it's side and the breathing was really slow with random gulps. (Almost like a hiccup) I don't want the fish to be in pain or struggling. However I put it back into the tank to see how it would act as it showed some sign of life when I lived it out of the water and is now laying on the sand upright. None of the other fish seem to be worried about it. For the squeezing thing I never squeezed the fish i only cupped it and held as gentle as possible close to the glass to get a better look at what was going on. I guess he/she got scared and took off out of my hand n released the substance. It wasn't getting bullied as it was the very 1st fish I had in the tank and was the tank boss for a long time although all aggression stopped when I got another 1 just lile it for some reason. Poss had male n female at that time idk. 

[Wrencher_Scott]

On 5/18/2022 at 10:39 PM, Nate22 said:

Sorry for the long post. I have African Cichlids and when I got home I noticed 1 of them was at the top of the tank and was REALLY fat and breathing very heavy(like a panting dog) and still is hrs later. I gently cupped the fish in my hand without squeezing it and he/she got startled and a brownish/cream colored substance came out of the back end. It came out of the hole closest to the tail. Idk what 1 its called as I'm still learning. The whole area is swollen and looks to be sore. (No open wounds) however there's something red in color that seems to be at the edge(inside) of the hole closest to the anal fin. Could it have been undeveloped eggs coming out or is the fish in extreme danger. I tried getting a pic but couldn't catch the fish close enough to the front glass. No 1 seems to be bothering it other than the same breed/type. (I have 2 of the same) The color is like coffee but with EXTRA creamer. I've caught the fish and have it in a breeding box for the night unless I see others attacking it. I have a 20 gal I can move it to if needed. Currently have 2 others in it for treatment of damaged fins.(fin nipping from others) please any information on what this could possibly be would help out so much. Oh he/she eats fine and has been going to the bathroom fine. Haven't seem any poo activity tonight thought.  

Look into egg binding. I don't know much about it but that could be it.

[Nate22]

That's what I'm thinking. It was close to the color of eggs. It really did a number on the fish though. I'm also thinking swim bladder as it can't stay mid water or at the top any longer. Just sinks to the bottom as soon as it stop swimming. Idk though. I'm new at actually caring about the quality of life for the fish as many yrs ago I just kept them to look at. I think by me touching the fish and scaring it might have done more damage. Well I know it did now. Just stinks as it was the og of the tank.