itchy dats

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
BushFishRox;4035615; said:
Well you should never have a 0 reading for nitrates unless it is an uncycled tank. If you are getting a 0 reading especially 4 days after a water change, check the expiry date on the test. They do flash once in a while but when you see it becomes more common then there is a reason for it and normally it is just a sign of your nitrates becoming higher.

Having a full belly doesn't make them itch, I have some fat dats and they never flash. Just so you know flashing is a sign that something is irritating them, so should really looking into why they are doing it. sometimes they just rub against something and didnt like the feeling other times it could be related to water chemistry.
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My Nitrates are 20.
I just figured out I wasn't mixing the test solution enough.:duh:

After searching the web I found a post on another forum where someone emailed API, and they told them to knock the #2 bottle on a table and shake it for a minute, that the solution can crystallize and settle out.
 
All dats don't like to just scratch themselves. This is the most bogus information I see on this site.
If anything it may be ich seeing clown loaches are prone to it on a yearly basis. Or if they are scratching constantly at their gills it may be flukes which is very common with datnoids.
I have smaller dats and big dats and niether scratch themselves. I'd like to see these people saying they tend to scratch themselves still having them alive 6 months down the road.
 
As long as there not doing it like 15 times per minute, roughly, I wouldn't worry.As ling as it's not constant, constant and progressively getting worse. Water q sound fine. bigger adult size Dats seem quite resiliant to temp changes ime. I alwas leave my back door opeo in the day so my dog can go in and out. In winter the room temp drops and my tank is around 78-80. Only warming up to 84 ish at weekends and in summer. All my fish are healthy .

I think littel ones r prob more sensitive to temp fluctuation.
 
Perhaps there is a reason, I saw two white spot on my 4"silver Dat tail fin last night. Not wanting to take any chances I upped the temp to 86* from 81* and slowly added a heaping table spoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons, diluted first of course.

I have two 1.5" clown loaches in the tank, they show no signs of itching or white spots. The two under 2" and 4" dats are the ones occasionally glancing off. I also saw my 5" Geophagus do it a few times.

The other fish in the tank, 4" Orino PB, 2-1.5" Clown Loaches, 2-4" Leporinus, 2" Pleco, and 2" catfish all show no strange signs.

Tonight is WC nite, I will do a gravel vac and 50% WC and replace the salt that I pulled out.

Do I need to add any meds to the tank?
 
WC's are a necessity right now, it helps to dilute the free swimmers. You need to keep the tank hot in all areas of the tank. I set mine at 87 degrees so I make up for any cold spots I may have in the tank.
Personally though I'd throw in a half dose of coppersafe to add with the salt. Works wonders.
 
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