My RTC does some things that are confusing to me and I wanted to get some feedback on what the issue may be.
1. He sheds... ALL THE TIME. My params are fine as well I dont get it. Params are Ammonia 0ppm/nitrite 0ppm/nitrate 5 ppm/ph 7.1
2. He tries to itch himself on the bottom of the tank by turning on his side and rubbing it on the bottom. It appears he does this to the bottom of his chin as well. My other bottom dweller a clown knife does the same thing from time to time but nobody else in the tank does. They dont have any white spots on them and I run a barebottom tank.
3. HE COUGHS! Like all of a sudden he will just like have an outburst and kind of jumps and briefly breathes heavily then goes back to breathing normal.
The scratching hasnt resulted in any deformity at all and other then the above he is a beautiful responsive fish that routinely eats out of my hand and loves to be pet. He's scratched or rubbed himself against the bottom now for probably 2 months now. I had ick months ago but got rid of it using the rising of the temperature and aquarium salt method. He is about 12 inches long in a 220 gallon. So tank size isnt the problem. He is never picked on or stressed out by tankmates and he doesnt rub himself on the bottom unless hes swimming around.
Any advice or Ideas are extremely helpful. Thank you.-Ryan
1. He sheds... ALL THE TIME. My params are fine as well I dont get it. Params are Ammonia 0ppm/nitrite 0ppm/nitrate 5 ppm/ph 7.1
2. He tries to itch himself on the bottom of the tank by turning on his side and rubbing it on the bottom. It appears he does this to the bottom of his chin as well. My other bottom dweller a clown knife does the same thing from time to time but nobody else in the tank does. They dont have any white spots on them and I run a barebottom tank.
3. HE COUGHS! Like all of a sudden he will just like have an outburst and kind of jumps and briefly breathes heavily then goes back to breathing normal.
The scratching hasnt resulted in any deformity at all and other then the above he is a beautiful responsive fish that routinely eats out of my hand and loves to be pet. He's scratched or rubbed himself against the bottom now for probably 2 months now. I had ick months ago but got rid of it using the rising of the temperature and aquarium salt method. He is about 12 inches long in a 220 gallon. So tank size isnt the problem. He is never picked on or stressed out by tankmates and he doesnt rub himself on the bottom unless hes swimming around.
Any advice or Ideas are extremely helpful. Thank you.-Ryan
