Fish Flicking Solution?

[johnnybravo]

Im having real problems at the minute with my malawis constantly flicking off the gravel / rocks, is there anything i can get to stop this? they dont have anything visible on them im guessing there just parasites in the water but i cannot get rid of them no matter how many water changes i do, ive always had this problem, its the same in my SA cichlid tank but not as bad as my malawi setup

Previously ive used various medications which havnt helped one bit, any suggestions?

 

[smegforbrains]

Metheleyne Blue.

Be warned though, it will stain EVERYTHING so take out all plants and ornaments.


You will still need regular water changes.


My wife had flicking problems not so long ago in one of her tanks. Added Meth Blue and 50% change every other day for about three weeks.



It took weeks to get rid of the staining, the water still has a blue tinge now.

 

[Ferris]

Are you sure you actually have a problem? That sounds like perfectly normal behaviour for an Mbuna tank.

 

[johnnybravo]

id prefer to steer clear of meth blue due to the staining, ive seen what it did to my mates rocks and theres no way i can move all the rocks i have

blue meth is a general all around medication isnt there anything more specifically aimed at this flicking? as i said theres nothing visible on the fish themselves they just go crazy sometimes and i dont like seeing it

Are you sure you actually have a problem? That sounds like perfectly normal behaviour for an Mbuna tank.

i dont know, is it normal for malawi to flick off the gravel / rocks? its happening all the time, i cant look at the tank for more than 10 seconds without seeing one of them flick

 

[Soaup]

Are you sure you actually have a problem? That sounds like perfectly normal behaviour for an Mbuna tank.

Exactally what i was thinking.

 

[johnnybravo]

i dont know, is it normal for malawi to flick off the gravel / rocks? its happening all the time, i cant look at the tank for more than 10 seconds without seeing one of them flick

 

[Ferris]

Flicking or "Flashing" as it's commonly known is very typical Mbuna behaviour and is usually a sign of aggression. Obviously you have to be careful that it's not an illness/disease but it really is an everyday event for these fish.

 

[lgarvey]

I have exactly the same thing! The fish flick regularly -- but not constantly -- and look kind of agitated when they flick; that's if I'm really able to tell when a fish is agitated, vs being territorial. They each do it several times a day. But ... they're super active, devour food like they haven't eaten in days, have no external signs of illness and generally look very healthy and boisterous.

I was really concerned about it as two fish died and I thought it was a sign they were all soon to go the same way. But a guy who has a lot of experience with fish (I'm a newbie) came over not so long ago and said they seem fine and that I should avoid using treatments when there's nothing external or obviously wrong with them.

I have tried a course of sterazin, putting in carbon (to sap out any chemicals), increased volume and frequency of water changes and removed the plug in air freshener. Yet they still flash.

So ... maybe it's just normal for mbuna?

 

[johnnybravo]

thanks for the replies

they seem healthy enough so im just gonna leave them to it!