domross Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hi, I've noticed a few of my fish doing some strange things of late. I've recently done a big water change (aprox 40-50%) and rearranged their rocks to break up territories. They've all seemed to brighten up in colour a bit after doing this and all seem quite happy. I have noticed some strange behavior however; from time to time they'll spasm quite rapidy, almost like fish epilepsy, they stop after a few seconds and swim away happily enough. I've also noticed them drag their bodies along the substrate as if they were itchy, hasn't happened for a little while and not all of them do it; again a select few. I think I can rule out the spasming as a sign of mating as the majority of my tank are males and the few females I have wouldn't breed with the fish that are exibiting the strange behaviour. Any ideas on what is causing this and how I should treat it if its a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziad Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 check your Ph. if the water is too acidic the fish will scratch. it also helps to add some salt. (prefferably one for cichlids) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domross Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hi Ziad, Thanks for the feedback; my PH is at 8.2-8.4 and when I did my large water change yesterday I added quite a bit of Seachem's African Cichlid lake salts as well as the Malawi/Victoria Buffer. Would those be doing a sufficient job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Salita Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 It could be a problem. It sounds to me that it could just as likely be a dominance and or territorial display. My mbuna do it, especially after a rearrange. Just because they are mostly males, doesnt mean they wont shake at other males by any means. Just as a male dog mounts another male dog to show dominance, fish will do it also. jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPM1976 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 I just want to add my fish do this from time to time.I thought there was a problem but i cant see or find any diseases or anything.So im wondering if its just something that they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 The fish are displaying. You have rearranged their territories and they are re-establishing them. The scraping on the rocks could be because of the large water change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcloughlin2 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 The 'spasming' is the fish displaying either for breeding or territorial purposes. Nothing to worry about most african cichlids do it in one form or another. The scratching though can be worrying. A scratch here or there is natural (I'm sure its not just human blokes who have a scratch ) but if it is happening often it may be a case of gill flukes or some sort of parasite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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