View Full Version : strange cichlid activity
sharkluvr
10-31-2006, 4:12 PM
i have an ahli cichlid that is acting weird? he will rub his sides along the decorations in my tank very harshly.has anyone seen this kind of thing before?
if so why is he doing it.
Ghost_knife
10-31-2006, 4:18 PM
yes, it's usually a sign of illness. Ich
sharkluvr
10-31-2006, 4:23 PM
how should i act on it. increase the temp?
fish_freak
10-31-2006, 4:56 PM
Increase the Temp to 83-84 and dose the tank with 1 T. of salt per 10 gallons of water. Is there any white spots on the fins of body of the fish?
sharkluvr
10-31-2006, 5:01 PM
No i havent noticed any yet does this meen that he does have it or that he might be getting it ?
fish_freak
10-31-2006, 6:20 PM
It doesnt mean that he isnt getting it the spots are seconday. It could also be another external parasite or poor water quality.
Here is a couple articles that should shed some light on your question.
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86451
kcooley
10-31-2006, 6:33 PM
if it is cichlids i would say you could go to 3 Tbsp per 10 gallons, but using a hydrometer would be the best
slowlyburn
10-31-2006, 8:09 PM
its called flashing and a few of my fish do it constantly to show or mark territory. dont get me wrong it could very well be an illness but i wouldnt go treating something that may not be there.
kcooley
10-31-2006, 8:10 PM
it is just salt. its good for them anyways
dvsgp6
10-31-2006, 8:51 PM
can you use any kind of salt
plah831
10-31-2006, 9:28 PM
yes. kosher, iodized, rock, evaporated sea salt, whatever kind. As long as it's NaCl and not like epsom salt (MgSO4). I use table salt, iodized because I couldn't find the non-iodized kind. Don't worry about the iodine, there's so little of it that your fish would be "pickled in brine" long before the iodine would hurt them. I prefer the table salt to "Freshwater Aquarium Salt" because it's cheaper and the smaller grains dissolve much easier.
Just make sure you dissolve the salt crystals in a separate container BEFORE adding it to the tank. If the salt hits your fish, it will burn their skin and gills.
mostlycichlids
10-31-2006, 10:45 PM
its called flashing and a few of my fish do it constantly to show or mark territory. dont get me wrong it could very well be an illness but i wouldnt go treating something that may not be there.
I agree keep an eye on it before you jump to conclusions My cichlids do this once in a while almost like they are showing off or marking an area. If thay do it daily or all of the time start treatment.
portabuddy
11-01-2006, 1:19 AM
what I have always been told that using iodized salt is a BIG NO NO, but if you have used it with no problem then thats cool, but just so you know adding salt increses the osmotic pressure inside the tank irritating the skin and forcing the fish to produse slime wich helps them to avoid desese and external parasite. but my cichlids do this on the sand eaven with perfect water conditions NO3 - 0, N2 - 0, N3 - 40-60ppm, Ph 8.2, this is more or less perfect for them so I'm guessing that they do it to show or mark teritory... I think that unless you see a drastic change like fading colours, popping eyes or spots dont dose the water too much, and while your at it go to your LFS and get some cichlid salts, it contains trace minerals that are good for them and garrantied not to hurt them...
by the way don't mess with the ph.. this will hurt more than it helps.
slowlyburn
11-03-2006, 11:28 PM
Some1 posted a temp increase... Yea ok. Don't jump to conclusions 2 soon is all I'm sayin.