Why do fish "flash"?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
parasites.


[YT]
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fyytwbcPjJg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fyytwbcPjJg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YT]
 
It's very easy to say what was happening without further analyzing the situation. How about we wait for further details before jumping to conclusions?
 
Okay, sorry for the long wait... I tested my ammonia levels just now and the reading that I got was about 0.25 ppm.

So, I am guessing that is not too high, but I will let the people that know more about this than I do chime in with their opinion.

It's worth noting though that I am doing 25% water changes every other day in an attempt to reverse the HITH my fish has. So, I would think that would also bring down the ammonia levels simply because I am doing such frequent water changes.

In light of my results, does this mean it is most likely external parasites that are causing my fish to flash?
 
Any amount of ammonia can cause fish to flash. Also, the fact that you've got ammonia present means there's something wrong with your biological filter. Therefore, in between your water changes, depending on the amount of your bioload, your ammonia could be rising, and then dropping due to the water changes. So they could be subjected to higher ammonia levels than what you're seeing when you test in between tests, and in between water changes. Are you using an antibacterial to treat for HITH? This could weaken or kill your biological filtration. In essence, yes, .25 is enough to 'burn' fish if they're subjected to it long enough, and your ammonia may be higher between water changes. As for parasites, I tend to believe that if you haven't had any new additions within the last month or so, it's pretty much doubtful that this is what's going on. Parasites have to come from somewhere. If you use feeders that could be the culprit. But, I wouldn't count out ammonia and start medicating for parasites, especially if you're already medicating for HITH. Try to figure out what's going on with your biological filter, because that can't be helping the guy with HITH, either.
 
Well, I am not using any sort of meds for HITH at this point. I am just doing the water changes. At first I was suspecting Ick, but I am not 100% sure if it was present or not, but I DID medicate for Ick though. I did it 3 times and then stopped. It was the liquid meds that turns the water a blue-ish color. So, maybe you can let me know if that affects my filtration in any way...

Also, I did have a relatively new addition as of late. I purchased a baby ornate bichir and it is in the tank with my fish as well. I didn't have a separate tank to quarantine him and I know I should have, but I did not. So, in light of this information, I guess that just serves to complicates things further in that the possibility of parasites is still in effect I would think.

Further thoughts?
 
Haha, yes. Complications. I am still of the opinion that you're dealing with ammonia burn. However, since others have brought up parasites, and haven't checked back in to respond tonight, I'll play devil's advocate, for the fishes' sake. It could be parasites. The new addition of the bichir could be the culprit. You could medicate for it. But I'm worried it's not, and further medication could stress your fish. If you were going to put any more medication in the tank, I'd run carbon for a couple of days first to try and remove all previous medication from the water. On the other hand, ich can make fish flash, as well. When you suspected ich, what was your evidence? Did you see the proverbial "salt grain"-type spots on the fish? Either you killed it with your treatment, or it's very shy ich, as it would have continued getting worse from that point on if it hadn't died. The ich "critter" has a life cycle where it does attach to fish, is sometimes free-swimming, can live in the substrate, and sometimes goes on vacation to the Bahamas. Well, not really, but what I'm saying is it's a complicated little critter. If you no longer see the salt-specks, then most likely, you killed it before, indicating that this flashing is related to something else entirely.
 
Well, I thought I originally saw some "salt spots" on the bichir, so that is why I suspected Ich. But, my other fish is a Satanoperca and my substrate is a white-ish colored sand so it is possible that some sand was on the bichir when my other fish would spit out the sand from his mouth. (lol)

But, since he has been flashing as well, I just figured it would most likely be Ich instead of sand granules on the bichir. But, that's not a given of course, it was just my guess.

So, now I have no idea how I should proceed. I am most worried about the HITH of course, but this other problem bothers me as well.
 
As I said, the biological filter is the first thing I'd worry about. I'm not sure how long ago it was that you medicated for ich, but if the fish aren't all covered in salt grains, gasping for breath at the surface of the water, then I'd assume it's not ich. I'd keep doing water changes, as you have been doing. What do you have in the way of filtration? Is it possible that what you have kept up fine before, but since your new addition, is struggling to provide biological filtration? Have you cleaned your media in tap water? Vacuumed all of your substrate at once? I'm trying to figure out what, exactly, has interrupted your cycle, thereby causing the (albeit, small) ammonia spike. Even if the ich was brought in by the bichir, chances are that by now, it would have spread to the other fishes. So any fish that doesn't live on the bottom with the sand would have spots too.
 
My last dose of medication for Ich was 2 days ago. As far as my filter goes, I have a Marineland HOB filter with a bio-wheel. I have since put back the filter cartridge with carbon in it as well. Initially when I was using the meds for Ich, the directions told me to remove the carbon filter, so I did that.

At the very least, they certainly aren't covered in "salt grains". If what I was looking at was Ich, it was certainly a very small amount of it. I recently cleaned my entire filter out with tap water. I am not able to vacuum the substrate because I have one of those "goose neck" faucets and none of the adapters on the Python vacuum will fit it. So, I do my best to clean the sand with a net while I sift through it. I try and do this every day now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom