interesting problem

[joshc21]

i have a 440g malawi cichlid tank and for about the last month and a half or so i’ve noticed that the fish are flashing. Not a lot, just like every once in a while. i haven’t noticed any signs of external parasites or fungal infections. just bud strange flashing. just about every fish does it.

has anyone ever had something like this happen? what did you do to treat it? i’ve heard of minn finn but i’m nervous to use it for the first time on my display tank that has lots of $$$ in fish

 

[celebrist]

Has your source water changed?

 

[Midwater]

I have had wild caught dats that flashed, and I have treated them with praziquantel, which fixed it. That might work with cichlids.

But strangely in the same tank as the dats, I have some wild caught red cheek barbs that flashed occasionally, but the prazi did nothing. I am not sure there was anything wrong. The flashing with the red cheeks is rather peculiar. They swim around as a group, and then one will swoop down and flash on a piece of driftwood, and then a second after, another barb will flash in the same place, and even on occasions, a third too.

 

[duanes]

How was the tank cycled ?
At only a month and half being set up, it may not yet be totally cycled, or the cycle may have not fully developed if not initially provided proper ammonia concentration for its new population, and the flashing may be due to elevated ammonia or nitrite.
I'd do some serious testing to be sure

 

[RD.]

More info required.

List of fish.
All male tank?
If females are present, are they also flashing?
Recent additions to this set up?
Water tests for ammonia etc?