Itchy fish

[ladymahler]

My fish are itchy. I thought it was a passing thing a week or two ago, but now it is back with a vengeance. This is horrible, it's not all of them, but one or two, and definitely a couple of my Molly babies.

Shops are closed (it's 6pm here) and I need some help please. It's not nice watching them wiggle over stuff to scratch their bellies.

pH: 7.2
Nitrite & Ammonia fine
Nitrates slightly higher than should be.



Thanks

Just read the sticky - some more details:
1. Water parameters. (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, PH, temp', Hardness etc)
Ammonia - almost none
Nitrate - slighly high, but going down
nitrite - almost none
pH - 7.2
Temp: 80F
Hardness: hardish

2. A full description of the fishes symptoms.
The baby mollies are bouncing at the bottom of their breeding net. Not all of them, just one or two, but then one wiggled like it was doing a break dance, at which point I thought I should post something. Now, five minutes later, none of them are scratching... so perhaps it is just an after-dinner scratch, rather than ich?

3. How often you do water changes and how much.
Every second day, 25%
Since yesterday, been doing gravel washes daily.

4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water.
With water changes, I add a spot of Cycle, FloraPride, AlgiMin and Aqua Chlor.

5. What tank mates are in the tank.
Tank #1: 2 Mollies, 2 Guppies, 2 Platy's and four Zebra Danios
Tank #2: 20 Baby mollies & unknown amount of baby zebras (they are almost invisible, so tiny)

6. Tank size.
12 Gallon for adults
4 Gallon for babies

7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish?
Nope
No changes recently, been very stable for a couple of weeks. Just know that I have a bit of planerium in the tank, which is disappearing due to daily gravel washings.

 

[WILDER]

If you have no med you could turn temp up and add some salt as you have no scaless fish in there, sure it isn't the high nitrate reading making then flick and rub, also after a water change it can make them do it, maybe add the salt and turn temp up, one teaspoon to a gal, but i would add the salt gradually so they get used to it.

 

[ladymahler]

Thanks Wilder, I have the salt and can start adding it bit by bit. A question, though: the zebra danio's, are they ok for salt?

 

[WILDER]

They should be fine danio are tough fish.

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=335

 

[gaya]

I would be weary about turning the temp up if you have an ammonia reading. You say you have almost none. From what I understand, ammonia is more toxic at higher temps. Any amount in the tank could cause your fish to act funky. In the past I have had experience with my fish bouncing around a bit with no other signs of disease and after taking a reading I found ammonia in the tank. Though as Wilder said they can get frisky after a water change.

 

[ladymahler]

Yes, I think those are wise words. The fish stopped itching now - I think it was just a funny... Got the temp. up to 82 degrees but will turn it down to 79 again, over a couple of days.