Rams "flicking" themselves on stuff

[parker313]

During the course of the day, I've noticed my rams "flicking" themselves on different things in the tank. At first, I noticed it on the rock I put in there in the hopes they might eventually lay eggs on it and was hopeful that it might be part of how they cleaned the rock. Then, I noticed them doing it on the gravel substrate and on the bubble wand. The female is looking particularly "interested" in the male, but he's kind of ignoring her.

I also know that the flicking can be a pre-cursor to an outbreak of ich (or the first stages of it really). How can I tell if their flicking is a good thing or a bad thing?

Thanks!
--Kristin

PS - No, I still haven't gotten any good pics of them My camera keeps focusing on whatever's behind them, not the fish themselves and it doesn't have a manual focus

 

[semper fi]

flicking can be a sign of illness. however mine do flick themselves in the tank. almost like marking their territory. if they are doing it continuous, i would worry. keep an eye on them and look for signs of illness

 

[Jae1525]

Maybe the Ich!!!

Fish with whitespot flick themselvs around on things as well as swimming rly fast as if they have sumthin on them!!

Have you checked them for grain sized white spots?

I hope its not the ich!!!!

 

[parker313]

Thanks, I'll keep a very close eye on them, luckily I can see them from my computer

They're not doing the swimming fast thing and the neons aren't flicking or looking odd it at all. They don't have any white spots on them (I've dealt with ich in another tank a long time ago, so I know what to look for with the spots) but my understanding is that the "flicking" presents itself before the parasite actually appears.

My *hope* is that they're marking their territory.....maybe even in preparation for laying some eggs there

 

[LIVEBait]

I would definitely keep an eye on them. It could be them just marking their territory. Or again, it could be parasites....

How are they eating?

I'm in the process of ridding my tank of gill flukes--nasty critters!

 

[parker313]

They're eating just fine. The female has always been bold. The male took some time to overcome his shyness and still spooks easily, but is doing really well.

I'm going to turn their light on and check them over...

 

[Jae1525]

How are your fish? Was it the ich?

 

[parker313]

Thanks for checking on them

No signs of ich. They are mainly doing it on the rock I put in there in case they did decide to spawn, so maybe they're just letting the tetras know who's boss

 

[Dwarfs]

Sounds like a parasite irritating them to me, try putting some meds in to help kill off whatever it may be

 

[parker313]

Thanks dwarfs, I'm actually leaning more towards the territory marking thing b/c now they are very seriously cleaning that big rock off. The male's doing most of the work while the female is herding the neons around and away from the rock.

I'm thinking about going ahead and moving the tetras to my big tank and letting the rams have the smaller tank to themselves......

 

[Daveo]

Mine do that but only accasionally and that is when they are marking there teritory. You might think that I'm crazy but they do mark there teritory(these are my tiger barbs I'm talking about and it is only one that does that accasionally on some bog wood or something, she is like the matriark of the group) 8)


Daveo 8)

 

[AmberC]

Hmm.. well I've never seen mine do anything like that before, but nothings shown up yet so its probably not a parasite. I would think you'd be able to tell if it was by now

 

[parker313]

Thanks Amber I'm still keeping a close eye on them just in case...

 

[lucky62]

Don't rule out parasites , you may not see them , but this dosn't mean they aren't present .

raise the temp a little , do a couple of extra water changes , this may even encourage spawning .

Most of all do what you've been doing , keeping a close eye on them .

good luck

 

[parker313]

Don't rule out parasites , you may not see them , but this dosn't mean they aren't present .

raise the temp a little , do a couple of extra water changes , this may even encourage spawning .

Most of all do what you've been doing , keeping a close eye on them .

good luck

Good thinking... I was thinking of ich specifically but forgot about other parasites out there....