African Butterflies Acting Unusual

[Creature Seeker]

I've had four of these fellows four about 2 months now with not much trouble. Recently they've been hanging halfway down the tank all bunched together normally in the evening. They've been like it for a few days and a few are breathing a bit heavier than usual. They seem to be feeding well.

I have made a few changes to this tank recently by adding two pieces of bogwood to soften the water (I heard they prefer soft water) and also darken the water (which it has a bit). I also bought another batch of floating plants as my headstander ate most of the last lot.

Anyone know what's up with them?

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[WILDER]

Whats your stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, is there enough aeration in nthe tank.
Did you sterlise the plants before adding them to the tank.
Are they flicking and rubbing on things.

http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pantodonn.php

 

[Creature Seeker]

Can't do stats at the mo as friend had my test kit but did a water change last week and normally nitrate is a tiny bit high because of my tap water. I'd expect my ph to be a bit lower than the normal 7.5 due to the bogwood.

Aeration, now that's a thought. Does the tannin/lower ph decrease areation levels? If heat rises in a fish tank the same way it rises in air then that might explain why they are sat halfway down the tank. I'll try turning the temp down a bit. It's 27 at the mo.

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[WILDER]

Do that and if there no change get back to the board.
Shouldn't really add plants without sterlising them first they fetch all kind of nasties with them.

They havent turned dark in colour have they.

 

[Creature Seeker]

Do that and if there no change get back to the board.
Shouldn't really add plants without sterlising them first they fetch all kind of nasties with them.

Cheers Wilder.

Havn't heard of sterlising plants before. What does that involve? Same way as quarantining? My lfs is the cleanest I've ever been in. Should I still sterlise plants?

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[WILDER]

Yes you can get parasites in them from there tanks, even snails.
go to the plant section of the forum as i don't have live so don't no how you sterlise them, good luck.

 

[Creature Seeker]

Turned the heat down yesterday and this morning they were all up the top but didn't eat a great deal. I've come home from work to find them all midway down the tank again and being very twitchy. It's nothing to do with the bog wood in? Should I do another water change?

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[WILDER]

Are you running black carbon as that will remove it.
Need stats really.
Could be water quality to parasites.

Any small bubbles on the fish as that a sign there about to break out in whitespot.

 

[Creature Seeker]

Are you running black carbon as that will remove it.
Need stats really.
Could be water quality to parasites.

Any small bubbles on the fish as that a sign there about to break out in whitespot.

There are small bubbles on the fish but I would have though it's because they always hang around the filter.

Why are bubbles a sign?

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Ammonia = 0
Nirtrite = 0
Nitrate = 50
PH = 7

 

[WILDER]

Seen it before with fish keepers having little bubbles on there fish then breaking out in whitespot, there twitching you said i would be prepared.

 

[Creature Seeker]

They were up at the top this morning but moved down after lights were turned on.

Noticed apollo shark flicking also and never noticed any fish flick for years so may have an outbreak coming.

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[WILDER]

Right for now just turn temp up to 30, but make sure you have plenty of aeration in the tank, good luck.