I have a recently setup 120 gallon aquarium, finished cycling 2 weeks ago, cycled the tank with 6 Buenos aries tetras, 6 spotted silver dollars, and 2 bleeding heart tetras. Duing cycling it was hard on a few fish, had to do some emergency water changes when nitrites were off the charts. Also heaters were not working properly during cycle water was between 68-69F (was replaced 2 weeks ago and has been holding steady at 80F. towards end of cycling had ich for a few days, added 1tbsp aquarium salt/5us gallons and the ich disappeared. One week after cycle completed added 6 more Buenos aries tetras, testing water and it seems the bio filter is working to keep up, no major spikes. All this week has been good, all fish have colour , all have had appitites, the original 6 tetras had fin nipped the silver dollars adding 6 more has stopped the aggression. Two days ago I noticed a new problem. have no idea what it is. The largest female silver dollar was acting funny around a male that was following her around the tank. I thought mating... No they are too small still (1" to 1 1/2")
The largest female while swimming will suddenly begin drifting, nose down slightly, there is rapid movement of her fins including dorsal, and gills as if shes having a seizure. there is also twitching of the eyes as this continues for about 5-10 seconds. Then she will dart away and begin a very slow curling swim as she wobbles back and forth. she eventually begins to swim normally again. during these episodes the male fish will start nibbling at her side and in 2 days has taken the sheen off her as she now has a dull whitish area on her side. the tetras will also take running nips at her when shes seizing.
Ive been keeping an eye on this and reading everything I can find on the subject, but today when I went to check on them the small male fish that's been nibbling at her is now starting to have these little seizures. this has got to be contagious. what do I do, need to identify problem and see if there is treatment or start destroying affected fish. Any help you can offer would help.
The largest female while swimming will suddenly begin drifting, nose down slightly, there is rapid movement of her fins including dorsal, and gills as if shes having a seizure. there is also twitching of the eyes as this continues for about 5-10 seconds. Then she will dart away and begin a very slow curling swim as she wobbles back and forth. she eventually begins to swim normally again. during these episodes the male fish will start nibbling at her side and in 2 days has taken the sheen off her as she now has a dull whitish area on her side. the tetras will also take running nips at her when shes seizing.
Ive been keeping an eye on this and reading everything I can find on the subject, but today when I went to check on them the small male fish that's been nibbling at her is now starting to have these little seizures. this has got to be contagious. what do I do, need to identify problem and see if there is treatment or start destroying affected fish. Any help you can offer would help.
