fish bouncing off leaves?

[reybie]

Is this a sign of disease? ICH? I have a honey gourami that's rubbing off on the leaves and once in a while (not all at the same time) my cherry/gold barb will bounce off the leaves. Sometimes one of the neons will do it too.

 

[DebbyS]

First thought: they all need glasses...

 

[Jayhawk]

What are your water parameters? Such behavior can occur with either a high nitrite or ammonia level (I can't recall which one it is, though). Ich should be visibly obvious.

If the water has 0's for nitrite and ammonia, and the nitrate is at a good level, it could be velvet which is harder to see but gouramis are a tad prone to it.

Eric

 

[reybie]

First thought: they all need glasses...

Hehe, you think
I have not checked water parameters today. I will update later at around lunch break.

 

[oddsoxdi]

I read in the vast SOMEwhere Out There that fish will 'bounce' off leaves and other items in the tank to establish those items as their temporary territory. It's funny to see one of them spank off another fish, then have that fish chase him all over the tank. When I had two honey gouramis, they did that. My rosies and red glass pair do it most especially after I've 'rearranged the furniture'. They're doing it now, even as we speak!
Hope this helps!

 

[12 Volt Man]

it can be a sign of any of the "organic" water parameters like nitrate, nitrite or ammonia being off, since these sorts of problems can compromise their slime coat and cause them to scratch.

or, it can be a sign of ich to come.

 

[Madcrawdad]

sounds like your fish are 'flashing' or 'flicking'...this is usually an attempt to clear an irritant from their body or gills, like ich (or other pathogen) or irritating chemical (ammonia, chlorine, etc.)

 

[tjr635]

Well how long has this tank been set up? if awhile it could be parasites? what fish sre in there? all the about sounds like it could be , do they eat , or do they hide?

 

[reybie]

The tank has been up for.. hmm a little more than 3 months. It was a fishless cycle and the occupants have no problem eating. This community tank has tetras and gouramis. Check my sig for detailed list. I still have to do the water test... wasn't able to do it at lunch break.

I do about 50% water change a week and treat my water as I fill the tank with a python. Temp is at 80F right now, if this is going to be ich, I am conditioning the fishes to a higher temp.