Iv noticed that my EBJD seems to be rubbing along my substrate and other decorations occasionally. It doesnt do it a lot but i do notice it. Why does it do this?
EBJD Scratching?
- Thread starter Hwom91
- Start date
There are several reasons this could be happening:
- Flukes
- External parasite
- Something in the water is bothering it (water quality, stray current, etc.)
If you do frequent water changes and it's in clean, well-filtered water, you can probably eliminate a water quality problem as long as all parameters are in check (low nitrate, zero nitrite/ammonia, pH hasn't crashed). Most of the time when fish rub their faces against decorations or substrate it's probably gill flukes.
- Flukes
- External parasite
- Something in the water is bothering it (water quality, stray current, etc.)
If you do frequent water changes and it's in clean, well-filtered water, you can probably eliminate a water quality problem as long as all parameters are in check (low nitrate, zero nitrite/ammonia, pH hasn't crashed). Most of the time when fish rub their faces against decorations or substrate it's probably gill flukes.
ok. I do a water change every 2 days on the tank so everything is great. It doesnt have ick. it doesnt just scratch its face, it scratches its whole body. What should i treat it for? is there a reason my EBJD is the only one scratching and not my other fish?
Ich can be in the gills where you can not see it. They will rub their gills and face with ich. Yes and the whole body too. Ich is also far more common then flukes. If you catch it before you see spots the better. There is no way to know for sure what it is unless you do a skin scrape and look at it under a microscope.
Treat with coppersafe as long as you don't have any scaleless fish or snails. Coppersafe will take care of All exteral parasites.
Fish will flash when there is a ph change, chemical in the water, not enough water treatment after a WC, poor water conditions, and parasites.
If it's a new fish or you added a new fish I would guess it's ich. If you don't treat them now my guess is you will start to see The white spots in a week or less.
Parasites tend to go for the fish that's easy. Stressed fish have lower immunitys and there for less defence. If left untreated the parasite will go for all your fish in time.
Treat with coppersafe as long as you don't have any scaleless fish or snails. Coppersafe will take care of All exteral parasites.
Fish will flash when there is a ph change, chemical in the water, not enough water treatment after a WC, poor water conditions, and parasites.
If it's a new fish or you added a new fish I would guess it's ich. If you don't treat them now my guess is you will start to see The white spots in a week or less.
Parasites tend to go for the fish that's easy. Stressed fish have lower immunitys and there for less defence. If left untreated the parasite will go for all your fish in time.
if it is just ich (and thats what it sounds like, they will catch it before you can actually see it and the most stressed/immune deficient will catch it first) then you dont need to add harsh medications, just raise temp to 86 and add salt (2tsp per gallon has always worked for me, add 1tsp per gallon today and then again tomorrow so its not so sudden for the fish) copper medications can be super harsh on the fish's systems and copper residues actually remain in the silicon on the tank so you really should only use them as a last resort
salt and 84+ degree temps for up to 15 days should solve it. Thats what Id do before I added any chemical.
You can just raise the temp first and see if the ich turns up on the fish. It speeds up the life cycle of ich and makes it visible. If you see the white spots in a few days then you know what you got. But if your gonna raise the temp you might as well throw the salt in. Salt cures everything from what ive seen. lol. Just make sure you dont raise the temp to quickly as it will stress the fish. I think its like 1 degree an hr?? Someone else may know the exact ratio.
Yes salt can work well. But don't use salt on scaleless fish.
Also water changes will be very helpful too. Every wc you will be removing any free swimmers and that means less parasites in the water. Also clean water helps your fish fight secondary infections that might come on.
Good luck hope he gets better fast.
Also water changes will be very helpful too. Every wc you will be removing any free swimmers and that means less parasites in the water. Also clean water helps your fish fight secondary infections that might come on.
Good luck hope he gets better fast.