Why Are My Fish Scratching?

[trist]

I have a 55g planted tank
It's been up for about 3 months
The last new fish I added were 3 discus and 1 pleco about 1 week ago.
I have 3 discus, 1 pleco, 4 gouramis, 9 rummynose, 3 neon, 1 cardinal, 5 clown loaches, 2 diamond tetras 1 large clawed crab and a few ghost shrimp.
I change about 25% of the water twice a week
temp is 84
My PH is about 6.6
water is soft,
alkalinity (kh) is moderate
amonia is at 0 nitrite is at 0 some nitrate is present but it was a very safe level according to the test strips I use

I noticed about 3 weeks ago that at least 2 of my loaches started rubbing up against the drift wood I have in my tank, I thought they might have ick, though I didn't see any visible signs of it, such as tiny white spots, and they weren't scratching over their whole body just on the sides of their heads, but I went ahead and treated the tank with maracyn 2 and maracide. However, they never stopped scratching. They're eating regularly and are active, and look healthy except for the scratching. So I waited to see if anything else might develop. And went ahead and added the discus and pleco which had been in a quarantine tank at that time to the main tank with the loaches and other fish.
Well yesterday I noticed one of my discus had something wrong with one of it's eyes, it was cloudy. And looked to be protruding a bit. I took him out of the tank and put him back in the hospital tank and am treating him for popeye, with maracyn 2 And now today I noticed one of my gouramis was starting to scratch on plants as well. and again it's just around the gill area.
I take it it's either a parasite or infection of some kind. But the treatment I tried didn't work, and since I'm not exactly sure what this is, I don't know what else to try. So thought I'd better check for some help.


I'd appreciate any advice.
Thank you!
Kim

 

[WILDER]

The tanks abit overstocked to me.
Though its coping for now by your water stats.
With rubbing the gills sounds like it could be gill flukes.
Signs are
Being pale with excss mucas on them, or red and inflamed.
Laboured breathing or gasping at the top of the tank.
Lethagic.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Spitting food out.
Can lose weight.
Flicking and rubbing on objects.

 

[trist]

The tanks abit overstocked to me.
Though its coping for now by your water stats.
With rubbing the gills sounds like it could be gill flukes.
Signs are
Being pale with excss mucas on them, or red and inflamed.
Laboured breathing or gasping at the top of the tank.
Lethagic.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Spitting food out.
Can lose weight.
Flicking and rubbing on objects.

Well, I'm not adding any more fish, but they don't seem crowded to me maybe typing it all out makes it seem like more. .
I haven't seen them gasping for air or noticed any mucus, I'm not sure the gills are inflamed. But I can post some pics, maybe someone can tell me. I do think they might be getting pale though, I have one half my tank like with a green tint light and the other half with a red tint, and before when they swam under the red light they were vivid red, but now they seem less vibrant, though I also notice the driftwood I have on that side doesn't seem as bright as before either, I thought maybe the light was going out, so I changed it, but things still seem less vivid on that side than when I first set up the tank. So I don't know if it's the lighting or the fish.

 

[charlie4486]

that is definitely overstocked. the discus and the pleco both get rather large. not to mention 3 discus. Look at the mature size of all your fish and check the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule.

 

[Musho3210]

yeah... just because it doesnt look crowded doesnt mean it isnt/wont be.

 

[WILDER]

Fish can rub now and again, how often are they doing it, if alot something wrong,.
now and then wouldn't worry just keep an eye on them for now.
Good luck.

 

[fry_lover]

the 1 inch per gallon rule is BS and no one really pays much attention to this (if you doing good maintenance etc)

But do get rid of the Gouramis, Pleco and Crab, as they dont really need to be there anyway and you will be better off for it with the set up

 

[charlie4486]

the 1 inch per gallon rule is BS and no one really pays much attention to this (if you doing good maintenance etc)

But do get rid of the Gouramis, Pleco and Crab, as they dont really need to be there anyway and you will be better off for it with the set up

Yeah some people say it is BS, but it is important to stay some what close to that. not because your tank will get dirty but because your fish might feel crowded (even though they might not look crowded). It's just a guideline to keep your fish healthy and comfortable.