Malawis Flicking?

[happyadd]

Hey,

I keep malawi cichlids and recently some have been flicking of the bottom of the tank.
Is this a sign of Ich, no white spots are visible.

I know they flick from time to time to show aggression but this is not that.

Any ideas? and remedies.

water parms are fine btw.

Thank you so much!

 

[pokagon55]

"flashing" is a sign that something is erritating the fishes skin....A parisite,ph, poor water conditions. I would try a 30% water change and then add salt to your tank. 1 table spoon for every 5gal. Make sure to let the salt desolve all the way before you add it to the tank. You can google: salt treatments for fish


here try this link:http/www.koivet.com/html/glossary/glossary_details.php?glossary_id=1&category=Symptoms

 

[WILDER]

What are your water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph, any laboured breathing with the flicking and rubbing, check the gills to see if they look inflamed.

 

[happyadd]

Did a water check last night and too my horror my nitrate was through the roof!

I did a 50% change and that has brought the nitrate down to 25....still too high....so i'll do another today.

What could cause this spike, I did my normal water change on friday and by monday I had readings of around 75.

I have an external filter as well as a built in one (juwel rio 240). finised stocking the tank on weekend, it is probably slightly overstocked, but it is recommended to do this with malawi.

is my external filter difficent or is it just the "spike" from adding 6 fish?

Please help. my malawi have lost colour due to the stress. other params are fine.

Gills aren't inflamed and breathing is normal...obviously the problem is nitrate...any advise?

 

[pokagon55]

What were all the readings? 25 ppm is ok Please give readings for more help. Did you vac. the gravel? If you know that you are over stocked then you have answered your own ??

 

[WILDER]

Need to no all readings, plus if you have added new fish it possilbe they have fetched a parasite into the tank.