My RBP's are flashing

[acvoss]

In the last few weeks I noticed my Piranhas were flashing and I looked up probable causes. Some websites report it to be caused by diseases / parasites. They do not show any visible signs of anything apparent, but will go on their sides and scratch the bottom or find a plant to rub against. I also read that it can be caused by gill flukes and should be treated accordingly with a water change and medication. However, after reading OPEFE (https://opefe.com/para_diseas.html) - it warns against using medication because piranhas are very sensitive to it. It does list medications on the bottom tho. After reading it - the medication that I might need to get is Maracide.

Again, I do not notice any other symptoms. They are breathing normal, eating well, and it seems that only RBP is mainly flashing. It is hard to tell them apart because they are all around the same size and have no identifiable markings to tell them apart, except one has a chunk missing out of his tail.

I'm going to do a 50-75% water change tomorrow

PH could be an issue.

 

[tlindsey]

In the last few weeks I noticed my Piranhas were flashing and I looked up probable causes. Some websites report it to be caused by diseases / parasites. They do not show any visible signs of anything apparent, but will go on their sides and scratch the bottom or find a plant to rub against. I also read that it can be caused by gill flukes and should be treated accordingly with a water change and medication. However, after reading OPEFE (https://opefe.com/para_diseas.html) - it warns against using medication because piranhas are very sensitive to it. It does list medications on the bottom tho. After reading it - the medication that I might need to get is Maracide.

Again, I do not notice any other symptoms. They are breathing normal, eating well, and it seems that only RBP is mainly flashing. It is hard to tell them apart because they are all around the same size and have no identifiable markings to tell them apart, except one has a chunk missing out of his tail.

I'm going to do a 50-75% water change tomorrow

PH could be an issue.

How long have you had the RBP?
What is your water change routine and how much water is removed percentage ?
Do you add Dechlorinator during wc's?
Have you added anything or a new Piranha to the aquarium?

 

[vosspacer]

How long have you had the RBP?
What is your water change routine and how much water is removed percentage ?
Do you add Dechlorinator during wc's?
Have you added anything or a new Piranha to the aquarium?

about 2 months now - they are still very young and active throughout the day. I try to remove 50% of dirty water a week. I also add dechlorinizer to water that needs to go in right away but have buckets of a few day old water standing by. Yes I have added feeders to the tank for the Piranha to eat. I have been observing the RBP and the flashing has subsided to the infrequent rubbing into a plant.

If it continues to subside, great ! But if not may have to get some meds. What do you think ?

 

[tlindsey]

about 2 months now - they are still very young and active throughout the day. I try to remove 50% of dirty water a week. I also add dechlorinizer to water that needs to go in right away but have buckets of a few day old water standing by. Yes I have added feeders to the tank for the Piranha to eat. I have been observing the RBP and the flashing has subsided to the infrequent rubbing into a plant.

If it continues to subside, great ! But if not may have to get some meds. What do you think ?

If you don't quarantine feeders that's a problem. Live feeders from lfs are not normally treated so you risk adding infected fish in the aquarium passing on disease or harmful pathogens to the little RBP's.