Scratching and Twitching...

[PeacockKeeper]

My four Azuls (6-7") and one Orino (6-7") is scratching themselves on the gravels and are twitching while posted in the middle of the tank.

They were fine before Sept. 11th. I did a 55-60% WC on that day and cleaned out one of the Fluval 404. I have two of the 404 and a filter sponge on a 125 gal tank. I cleaned one of the 404 with clean water since the other will not get cleaned and figured the other has been establish long enough and the BB will be fine besides the filter sponge is not cleaned. Add my stress coat and filled it up...

Sept. 14th, came home to find that they are scratching themselves on the gravels and at times would twitch like crazy.

I did a 40-45% WC and added salt.

I see that the upper portion of their eyes are turning white (not the eye itself but above the eye). I think that's a sign of pop eye as I have seen it on my other orino before he got pop eye and died. I dose the tank with melafix.

Sept. 15th, I checked my water parameters and the results are:
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 40 or 80ppm (can't tell the difference between them two)
pH: 7.6

What is going on? Help????

 

[I<3fish]

Nitrates are too high. Add more aeration and turn your heater up to 88 (should already be there when keeping peacock bass.)

 

[Venom SS]

Bet you feed live from time to time huh? Youve got parasites. Could be ick, could be lice, could be anchorworms. Chances arent too bad that youve got internal parasites as well. Aquarium salt and 87+ temp will beat ich, but it wont beat the flukes, lice, or worms. Those require meds, most of which are pretty nasty to boot. Start looking into anti parasitic meds if the salt and temp bump dont work. Something like Prazipro might work for the worms / flukes if thats the case. It will also treat internal parasites at the same time. Good luck, ive been there.

 

[PeacockKeeper]

Went out and got some PraziPro...took the carbon out of the 404s and then dose the tank as said on the label. It said that one dose should last for 5-7 days but then says that I could dose after 3-5 days. I am hoping on dosing again on the fourth day. I hope it wont be an overdose.

Venom, did yours make it thru? I hate to hear the bad news on mines.

 

[HULON]

For some reason when you said the eyes are clouding and they are itching and you cleaned a filter .I am thinking your Amonia and Nitrite are elivated somhow went into a mini cycle HAve you checked?

 

[PeacockKeeper]

I got PraziPro in there right now...will I still be able to conduct the tests and get accurate results?

 

[HULON]

I got PraziPro in there right now...will I still be able to conduct the tests and get accurate results?

Should be able to check the label on the prazi should say so...

 

[gangster]

How often do you do wc's? WIth 5 cichla you have a decent bio load....so you should be doing wc's atleast once a week at 50%. ANd you should always clean your filters w/ tank water. YOu never want your nitrates that high either....which means you should be doing more wc's.

 

[cc247]

if it is a parasite try jungle labs parastie clear tank buddies did wonders for mine.. goodluck