View Full Version : Cichlid scratching itself on gravel, etc
stoopid
08-11-2003, 9:17 PM
My electric blue started 'scratching' occassionally a few days back. It has no spots or evidence of ick, and I actually treated the tank for ick last night prior to adding some (3) new botia cats (recommendation of the LFS to smooth their conditioning process in the tank, or at least that's my understanding... seems to have worked either way).
Why would the ahli be scratching?
*edit* Actually, I just watched my Milomo do the same thing...
peifc
08-11-2003, 11:01 PM
Your fish got some irritation. My fish does the same when they started to have ich.
stoopid
08-11-2003, 11:16 PM
I added a second treatment, but only half a dose for ick again tonight, I'll see if it stops in a few days.
I hate disease and hope to hell I can avoid it now as I'm set on fish for a little while. The tank JUST finished cycling, so hopefully things will find a good equilibrium.
Rocketman
08-11-2003, 11:24 PM
It's possible the fish could be "flashing." If you see any signs of illness though, that isn't it.
dave76
08-12-2003, 10:16 AM
my fish would occasionally do this as well, not constantly but from time to time would just scratch. I got the tank buddies parasite tablet treatments the other day. You know the one that treats 10 gallons to 1 tablet. I thought great I will have to use a ton of them. I put a few in the tank and too my surprise my fish actually started to eat them. injestion is the suggested treatment. I was amazed that they liked it. so far no scratching in three days. I would suggest the tank buddies treatment, but only if you read the back and the active ingredient is praziquantel. If you see signs of illness you should use other treatments though.
stoopid
08-12-2003, 10:19 AM
k, thanks... I'll keep my eyes on them for the next few days... unfortunately, I'm not going to be home much this week :(
dave76
08-12-2003, 11:26 AM
mine did it off and on for a month before I gave them treatment. I have read that some scratching and shaking is normal cichlid behavior. It is when my catfish started scratching that I became concerned. Is this something that they are doing 2-3 times a day, hour, minute? how often they are doing it could tell you how serious it is. If they are constantly scratching I would be worried.
stoopid
08-12-2003, 3:51 PM
Originally posted by dave76
Is this something that they are doing 2-3 times a day, hour, minute? how often they are doing it could tell you how serious it is. If they are constantly scratching I would be worried.
Not too often, I don't just sit and watch them, so for me to see it during a 15 minute 'watching' session, it's probably a bit of an issue (but the ick guard should help, if it doesn't I'll be back :p ).
Definatly sounds like flashing to me, From an internal parasite like gill flukes. praziquantel is the best thing to resolve this problem as dave76 pointed out. Thing is though dave. what are these tablets man. I could go for some of those. I used prazi pro that I bought online from a goldfish and koi vendor. These tablets sound interesting because it is indeed the best way to medicate internal parasites is through ingestion.Where did you get the tablets.
dave76
08-12-2003, 5:33 PM
I got them at walmart. Tank buddies is the brand. Make sure that you check the ingredients as praziquantel is a new ingredient. Some of them do not contain praziquantel and others do. I was looking for a cost effective treatment and prazi pond treatment is like 100 dollars for 50 treatements. I dont need that much and I dont want to spend that much. One day whilst I was drug to wally world by my better half I wandered to the fish section. I hate the way walmart treats fish, but some of thier prices on meds and foods you just cant beat. I saw the tank buddies brand dissolving tablets and decided to read the back and sure enough the first listed active ingredient was the one I was looking for. I got enough to treat 200 gallons for $5. and it seems to have worked with one treatment. I think they have a website as well I will post it when I get home.
yeah praziquantel is expensive. I bought a little 3.5 oz 100 gram bottle for 16 bucks im pretty sure it was. Enough for I'd say 250-300 gallons. I'll have to check those tablets out.
Before medicating have you checked the obvious? You say your tank just finished cycling. Are you sure? A rise in ammonia levels can cause gill irritation which will induce flashing. I think testing your water parameters should be the first step before medication.
stoopid
08-12-2003, 11:01 PM
Watched them for a bit tonight and didn't see one scratch, so maybe the ick guard did the trick.
Scott, checked the ammonia levels and they're not even registering with the test kit. Good suggestion though, which is why I tried it... I'd rather not dump chemicals in there if/when I can avoid it.
stoopid
08-13-2003, 7:55 PM
Well, they're still scratching, but it's not epidemic. I bought the tank buddies parasite formula (as suggested above) and will aplly 2 treatments over 2 days with a 20% water change.
Tiger15
08-13-2003, 9:04 PM
Do you use crushed coral? I heard that the fine in the coral can irrigate the fish and cause scratching. I changed all mine to dolomite gravel.
stoopid
08-14-2003, 10:06 AM
Originally posted by Tiger15
Do you use crushed coral? I heard that the fine in the coral can irrigate the fish and cause scratching. I changed all mine to dolomite gravel.
No, I use gravel like yourself.
The fish seem happy, but I am a perfectionist so when I see anything wrong I'd rather lick it then rather than leave it looming.
stoopid
08-20-2003, 9:51 AM
The combination of water changes, aquarium salts at treatment dosage (1 tablespoon per 5 gallons), and aquarisol seem to have worked (no more scratching).
sunnygirl
08-22-2003, 12:12 AM
dave76- did you get the idea for the fizz tabs when you replied to my post "what?! my africans tail fell off!"? any way my fish ate the tabs too, they would also position their gills right over the fizz. makes me wonder if they have gill flukes. kinda hard to tell the difference between scratching and displaying with cichlids. ive noticed though that when theyre displaying, they usually shake and change colors/barring, at the same time, and its usually when they have picked out a new cave- which they do every time i add a plant, or snails, or even when i change the water. :rolleyes: ive even noticed it when i turn on the light after its been off for awhile.:p
dave76
08-22-2003, 9:52 AM
I had been looking for an affordable treatment of praziquantel for some time. One day I was at walmart and decided to read the tank buddies ingredients even tho I had heard they were worthless. When I saw that they had added praziquantel and realized I could buy it at walmart for $3 instead of paying $50 or $100 I jumped on it. I had no idea they would eat it. This medication is endorsed by wetmanny and I trust him. :D