German Blue Ram Question

[knashash]

I have a pair. I noticed the female rubbing her side against the plant leaves. Quick like motions where she brushes against the leaves. She looks fine and seems totally healthy...eating and everything. I read somewhere however that this might be an indication she might have ich or something...any ideas? or is this just natural behavior?

 

[andytwite]

She might just have an itch she's trying to scratch! Keep your eyes open for tiny white dots, like grains of salt on her or the other fish in your tank over the next few days. If any appear, then you've got Ich and will need to treat the tank. There are other medical woes that fish can have that will also cause this scratching but until you see signs of any it's pointless trying to diagnose.

Other reasons for 'flicking' can be chemicals in the water causing irritation. Any chance you just did a water change? I've found that a bit too much dechlorinator can cause fish to get a bit irritated.

 

[knashash]

Actually yes......I just had done a water change.....used Amquel. Actually that brings me to another question. When you do a water change do you use enough declorinator to treat the whole tank or just the amount for the water your adding?

 

[andytwite]

Then that's a possible suspect. Also, isn't Amquel used to take the ammonia out of the water, not dechlorinate it? Forgive my ignorance, i've never used it. Is your tank cycled? If it is then you wouldn't need to lock up any ammonia as there shouldn't be any.

 

[Jtd724]

those are more indicative of some outer parasite, flukes, lice, or anchor worm. Watch them closely if they exhibit that behavior further in the few days I would highly suspect flukes of some kind. Cichlids are known for this. If you find and believe flukes or lice, look into fluke tabs or coppersafe.

 

[andytwite]

Although parasites are possible, fish with parasites tend to stop eating regularly, get lethargic, lose color etc. As I said, if it's a real quick 'flicking' motion, also known as 'flashing' then it's definitely an irritant of some kind and I'd be looking firstly at the over-dosage of a dechlorinator, then Ich, then parasites.

 

[knashash]

ill keep an eye out for flukes. I assume there will be visible signs of them? As far as the Amquel goes...here is a breif product description:

AmQuel protects aquarium and pond fishes and invertebrates by quickly eliminating three of the most toxic chemicals commonly found in water: Ammonia, Chloramines and Chlorine. For Fresh and Salt Water. Non-toxic to humans, pets and aquatic life.

Oh and yes my tank is cycled. Heavily planted 55 Gallon had it for about 6 months now.

Heres a picture of them by the way. CO2 injector in the way a bit.

 

[andytwite]

I'd just make sure you are real careful about using the right amount of the Amquel and keep your eyes on the fishies for the next few days.

 

[Jtd724]

flukes are microscopic, skin flukes and gill flukes they will flash like your saying, gill flukes if you can get a good look while they are staying still, see if both gills are puffing in and out, or just one is. I'm not saying it's that, but if it continues for a few days\week(s)

 

[andytwite]

In response to your earlier queation, when you do a water change you should only be adding enough dechlorinator to treat the new water you are putting in. If you're treating the whole tank then you are 'double dosing'.