odd Scarlet Badis behavior

[calivivarium1]

My scarlet badis(dario dario) has been acting crazy since I turned off the lights on my paludarium to do a water change. He is darting around, flaring, breathing heavily, and just plain acting weird. My water parameters tested fine as best I can tell (I can't read my nitrites/nitrate ones with my water. It turns the same colour as tannin stained water.. doh).

The crazy thing is he started this behavior before I began the water change. I figured that he was just stressing at first because I was hanging around the tank...

I have looked symptoms for diseases, and the disease which seems to match closest to what I have is ich or gill flukes. However, I don't see any white spots on the fish(he is just acting like he has it) and I would have no idea how I would see mucus on the gills of my 3/4" fish...

Any ideas?

 

[Lupin]

Did you turn off the room lights first? Best turn off the lights of the paludarium first before the room lights. What test kit are you using?

 

[calivivarium1]

I am using a Red Sea kit. It was recommended by a local fish enthusiast awhile back. I am thinking of picking up a new kit if I decide to go ahead with a planted aquarium.

The tank is positioned so that it doesn't get too much light except for the CFLs on top. When I clean the tank the part of the room with the tank is pretty dim.

After I made the post I decided to just kill the lights for the night and let the guy sleep. I checked on him about 2330hrs(had to get a drink of water!) with a small flashlight and his fins were still kinda flared, though he was finally in a "normal" hiding spot.