Shubunkin twiching?

[Racersk]

Not really a pond fish so I am posting here...

I have a shubunkin GF now sharing the waters with 4 tinfoil barbs, the water is right around 72* all parameters are good, 90 gallon tank.

This guy is now leading the shoaling barbs all over the tank, but I saw a peculiar 'dance' that the goldfish does and it has me a bit curious. Is this guy getting *excited* around these guys/gals? It shivers like a bumble bee dancing-showing it's hive mates where the flowers are...It's a fairly young fish, maybe it's in its 'teen' years, lol.

I do know the GF loves his new companions for sure, he was sorta lost n the tank when on its own. Has anyone else ever seen this?

 

[Nomi]

Twitching can sometimes be a sign of flukes or other parasites. Is he actually twitching or just swimming about very fast?

 

[Racersk]

Swimming fast and the twitch is either his dorsal, saw this today, or his anal fin, saw this 2 days ago...

 

[Lupin]

If you never treated it with praziquantel before, now is the time. Nomi is correct about the flukes. Flukes are prevalent among goldfish.

Here's the acceptable info and dosing schedule for prazi. Treat ALL fish that you have with your shub.

Remove carbon.
Add 2.5 milligrams per liter of water.
If you are using the powdered version, it is difficult to dissolve. Predissolve in tank water by shaking it up in a small container.
Dosing
Day 1 -- remove carbon, perform water change with vacuuming, and add Prazi to tank
Day 2 -- add Prazi
Day 3 -- do nothing
Day 4 -- do nothing
Day 5 -- do nothing
Day 6 -- add Prazi
Day 7 -- add Prazi
Day 8 -- normal partial water change with vacuuming
Day 14 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 21 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 28 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 35 - normal partial water change, add carbon, treatment is complete

 

[Racersk]

Lupin,

I added 'Parasite Clear' a Jungle product that I already had. It states "Now with Praziquantel", so this is what they are going to be treated with. The tank is a 90 by dimensions, but really the system is about 80 with sump. The directions state 1 tablet pre 10 gallons, I have 6, simple math dictates I get more, but what are your experiences?

I can pick up more for next weeks dosage, but is it more important for the first dosage to be right on or more, or should I be fine till I can afford more medicine?


The status of this fish is that they are healthy, but constant rubbing on ornaments leads me to believe that there is indeed an irritation of some kind.


Thanks for the specific info!

 

[Lupin]

Can you not obtain the pure praziquantel? Prazi is very mild but if other ingredients are included, they will harm your fish more than actually help them. It's for this reason pure prazi is advised. The dosing schedule I posted is for pure prazi only since flukes can last more than a week. The original schedule used to be a week until it was found out that flukes can easily survive for some time so it is a good idea that the treatment process must be at least a month to cover all life cycle stages of the parasites.

 

[Racersk]

Not that I can't find it, just can't afford it atm. I am going to get the right stuff as soon as I can though, following your advice. I figured that the parasite clear would be at least something so my barbs don't scrape all of there scales off...Worse than my dog when he gets 'A' flea!

Also, from my original subject line, I really do think my shubunkin is getting frisky with the barbs, as it'll be swimming beside and nudging the barbs then he started twitching again...I think he wants to create a shubunkin/barb hybrid... hmm, is that even possible? lol