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My fish are flicking. I have a bottle of multi purpose remedy on order (1st bottle got smashed in the mail). will this help or do I need to dash out and get something else? I put some melafix in the tank last night - for lack of anything else

What should I do now? Don't want to lose them all.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Are you using any fertilizers? I have heard that they sometimes cause fish to flick. Do you put any additives in the water?

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Sorry. more info..... Tank is a mbuna tank. Rocks no plants. Prime water conditioner is the only additive.

Water changes of 10% weekly. One on Sunday night. And another smaller one monday night in an attempt to improve the water quality... if that is indeed the cause? I don't know how since I am so diligent about water changes, media cleaning and not overfeeding.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Flicking...as in random twitches/rubbing against stuff?

May be a sign that their scales/skin/whatever's on the outside of 'em is irritated... like some sort of external parasite.

Might want to look up velvet... see if it might be that, or some other sort of parasite. You might want to run thru the disease identifier (up there^, under Interactive), an' see what you can come up with.

As Natalie mentioned, there may be something in the water that's irritating them if they all started doing it at the same time. Any new chemicals added? Switch water conditioners? Drop anything into the tank?

A series of rather large waterchanges might help...

Other than that, I dunno...hope everything works out alright

HTH

Occassional flicking is mbuna behaviour. This was more than that. The little guy (clown loach) was going for too long. And then another one (Hongi Island I think this time) was doing it last night!!!

Last edited by wish-ga at 12-Dec-2005 17:39

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

So...back to my original Q... will a multipurpose remedy help?

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Yes, but it might also damage the CL. if you can see clamping, excess mucus production, or any sort of dustiness or large parasites on the fish, i'd go for Protozin. It should be less damaging to the CLs at half-dose than the standard multicure mix (meth blue, mal green, and formalin).

Did this happen straight after a waterchange?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

No not straight after a water change. I saw a little cl loach have a flicking episode. Then nothing for a week. Then saw a cichlid have an episode. Not sure what to dose with now. I always dose 1/2 strength because of my clown loaches. What is Protozin for?

I had a look on the net and it seems it will address a host of greeblies and it has loachies on the bottle. gotta be good. The generic pet type shop at the mall near me has it in stock... I will go after work and get a bottle.

Actually Calla I just realised that your list of symptoms like mucous or parasites are not visible. The only thing I see is flicking not redness around gills, spots, tears, breathing funny or hovering near surface etc. Just this *flicking*! If it is internal parasites will the Protozin help?

Last edited by wish-ga at 13-Dec-2005 19:42

Last edited by wish-ga at 13-Dec-2005 19:43

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

wish-ga - you just described all the symptoms of ammonia poisoning,hydrogen sulphide poisoning, or sudden ph changes. Perhaps a pocket of it got released when the gravel got disturbed during a water change? It might not show on a test kit if the filter is working well and if the test is not performed on the first day of the problem it might not detect it, but the symptoms may persist for several days.Check the tank thoroughly for any old detritus or ornaments that may trap air or water in their hollow interior. If the aquarium is planted it might be worth uprooting a few of the bigger plants, washing the roots and replanting them. Id at least eliminate those factors before starting a treatment, it need only take 10 minutes after all.

Aside from that - dactylogyrus flukes on the gills maybe? I think cal covered everything else. Protozoans are a prime suspect when symptoms arent entirely visible.Sometimes they are the classic "mystery" killer of many fish.



Last edited by longhairedgit at 14-Dec-2005 07:11

Last edited by longhairedgit at 14-Dec-2005 07:13

Hey git thanks for that. On the weekend I had moved all rocks and did a good vaccum too. I vaccum each week when I do a 10% water change. No plants - mbuna tank.

I have started the protozin treatments (has to be administered on day 1 2 3 and 6) I won't do a water change while I am treating for days 1 2 and 3 but may do one day 5 or 6.

Hope they are okay soon. This morning before work saw one of the littlies new auratus flick. Hadn't seen that up to now. It is only the occassional episode but enough to worry me.

Last edited by wish-ga at 14-Dec-2005 16:29

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

***** STOP PRESS *****

Tiny white spots on the tail of the clown loaches. It's Ich. My first instance in 5 years. Perhaps my recent move has different water source hence this outbreak.

No great fluctuations in temp so suspect the water at my new house.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

ah well, at least the treatments for ich are usually easy and readily available.

There has been Losses: http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Hospital/67120.html?200512221610



Last edited by wish-ga at 22-Dec-2005 16:13

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~