Itchy African Malawi cichlids.

[markstrimaran]

It had been going on since I had them. They will swim sideways, and kind of bounce of the sand bottom. Rubb themselves on tank rocks.
The have no white spots, no frayed fins. They have been in pH from 7.2 up too 8.3.
It is done maybe a few times each day.
The new baby fry started doing it also.
I think their just scratching themselves, ad it has been going on for so long with out any, sores or white spots.

 

[Justin David]

Id say ich or high nitrates. Check your water

 

[WHITEBEAR26]

Id say ich or high nitrates. Check your water

DIDDO

 

[markstrimaran]

Denitrator, algae scrubber have been going nitrates from 5ppm to 15ppm.

How long can a fish have ICH without any physical signs? This has been going on for 6 months.

I have added salt, mardal, in the past.
Torn fins heal up in a week or so. Their reproducing like rabbits.
They all have vigorous appetites.

I think I might have high silicate tap water.
I am out of budget until work picks up too afford any more test kits.

My fry tank is separate from the adults, and gets 2x 50% weekly WC.

 

[deeda]

It sounds like normal behavior to me, especially if you see no damage to the body.

 

[DJRansome]

Several times daily...all fish. Something in the water...not necessarily an illness. Try keeping pH 100% stable and see if it lessens in a couple of weeks.

 

[stalefish83]

Does your pH normally fluctuate from 7.2 to 8.3? That's wayyyy to much of a variance and will most certainly cause the fish to "flash" (the scratching behavior your describe). Such a large swing in pH is likely irritating them, so it may have nothing to do with ich. I'd say it's the pH swing if it really does change that drastically. You'll need to find a way to stabilize

 

[markstrimaran]

The most it changes daily is like 7.80 to 7.55. My tap water can range from 8.0 to 7.0 depending on how much it has been raining.

 

[DJRansome]

You want to shoot for no more than 0.2 change at a time. That could be it.

 

[markstrimaran]

I might need to use more crushed shell, coral, for a buffer. It changes .20 between dawn and dusk.