Flicking

[jimlan]

Hi folks

My Malawi's are flicking, checked them with magnifying glass, they look great, nitrate was a bit high, but did 30% water change Saturday, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 25, GH 10, kh 15, ph 8, only started 3 month ago, any suggestions, some fish holding, but flicking really worying me.

Thanks in advance

jim

 

[ikevi]

I assume you are saying flashing. Where they will brush up against rocks or you substrate. A little is perfectly normal. But if they do it so much that they are hurting themselves then you might have a problem. (Usually ich, though bad water, stress and many other things can cause this behavior, though ich would be visible as white little dots.)

 

[tarheels910]

Tank size, filtration, and stock would help.

 

[mike dunagan]

if they are breeding they may be showing off, and stating dominance...

 

[Scotty]

Try adding a good dose of salt as most of the bugs are single cell organisims and a sudden change of salt level will cause them to drop off and die. A double dose will do. I would also suggest you do another partial water change within a couple of days, especially if you had a high Nitrate level.

 

[gomezladdams]

Mine do that a bit right after a waterchange.Is there a chance your tap water ph has dropped?