Jack Dempsey "Shivering"

[ChiaJesus]

For the past several...months I guess...one of my Jack Dempseys has been acting very odd. He has a constant shiver. It starts at his head and it goes all the way down to his tail. I do mean constant too...it isn't a breeding thing, it looks like he has Parkinson's Disease. It's not fast or violent, it's a little more than slight though - like a tremor.

I'm not too sure what to do with him. All of the other fish in the tank are fine. I keep the tank in pretty good condition (big water changes every week since it's a little overstocked) and after 5 or 6 days it does get pretty high in nitrate.

I don't want to treat the tank with drugs if I don't know what the problem is. My wife thinks I should put him our of his misery but I don't want to do that if this could be normal behavior or treatable.

Any ideas?

[GEV83]

150G Harbor of Horrors - Green Terror, Jack Dempseys, Red Shouldered Severums, Turquoise Severum, Tiger Oscar, Breeding Albino Bristlenose pair, Convict, Firemouth, Blue Acaras, Red Hook Silver Dollars

Im guessing this is the tank with the fish in question. Ummmm is there any way you could get like a video of him and put it on YouTube.com for us to see. Normally pics are asked for but a pic doesnt show motion like shivering (yes just stated the obvious im tired ok lol). A video if possible would be useful.

How big is your JD? A pic could determine what sex you have.

Like the Names you gave your tanks lol. I want a Kiddie Pool one day gotta love them Altums

[ChiaJesus]

Thanks. Here's a video of him. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hewAxoCcXEA) It's not that bad today but you'll see what I mean. It's often faster and occurs at faster intervals, but this is what it looks like. Notice the somewhat sunken in stomach.

...and I apologize for Dahmer the oscar for getting in the way. He's an attention monger. ;)

[Fish-Addict]

Ive had fish like this before, and not knowing what it was treated it as swim bladder problem (I was just starting out in the hobby) so stopped feeding him and just fed him peas.

It worked :), unless it was coincidental that he got better

[ChiaJesus]

Ive had fish like this before, and not knowing what it was treated it as swim bladder problem (I was just starting out in the hobby) so stopped feeding him and just fed him peas.

It worked :), unless it was coincidental that he got better

Thanks Fish-Addict. I might give that a try.

[d1anonly22]

he honestly looks fine to me, my male does the same thing but more violently. does he ever pick up rocks in his mouth when he does this?

[kyryah]

When my mollies do something similar, it is a sign that they need electrolytes. I add aquarium salt to the water, and it almost immediately stops.

Now, I am not suggesting that you do this, as I have no experience with cichlids, but that is my experience.

Kristina