Fish Flashing At Times

[dave_paton]

Ok i need to know if i should be buying any meds or not. My situation is my fish are scratching or "flashing" off the substrate my driftwood and plant leaves. They are not doing it all the time just occasionally after feeding time. I thought maybe they were trying to find uneaten food but i am worried they might be sick.

Tank size: 140L
pH: 7
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:10
kH:2
gH:8
tank temp:26*C

Fish Symptoms: Flashing, no loss of color, no change to eating habits, swim around normally

Volume and Frequency of water changes: weekly 20% change

Tank inhabitants: 4 Gold Barbs
10 neon tetras
2 Bolivain rams
2 German blue rams

I have been slowly stocking the tank over the last two months after i have fully cycled with fish in. i cycled fish in with 4 gold barbs and 2 three spot gouramis, i took the gouramis back as they were to aggressive.

I may be worring about nothing but i want to be on the safe side and make a post.
They all look and act fine, but i have seen 1 bolvian and each of the barbs flash on the odd occasion.

What should i do? sorry for the long post

 

[WILDER]

Any excess slime on the body of the fish.
Also check the gills to see if there pale with excess slime or red and inflamed.
Added any chemicals to the tank like meds or plants stuff.

 

[dave_paton]

No exess slime,
Gills seem fine and a normal color
I use florish liquid fertilizer the brand is seachem, i last used the ferts on sunday, do you think that could be it? i usually fert the plants twice a week. no other meds have been added
thanks for the reply wilder.

 

[WILDER]

Not sure if plant stuff can make them flick, do they normally flick when you add it.
Shine a torch on the fish to see if you can see any golden spots or patches glow up, turn tank lights out.
Can you see any signs of little salt like grains of spots.

 

[dave_paton]

Nah the plant food doesnt ive been using it long before the fish were in, i tried the torch thing and i cant see any salt like specs or anything out of the odinary, do you think the fish could be scrathcing just because they are itchy?

 

[WILDER]

Your water stats are fine so its not that.
Could be the plant stuff if there not used to it.
How much are the fish flicking, fish can flick now and then, but if its alot something irratating them.
I woud just keep an eye on them.
What the temp, do you have plenty of aeration in the tank.

 

[dave_paton]

hmm yeh will do, i wouldnt say its exessive but im fussy when it comes to my tnak so i could be overeacting. My temp is at a constant 25-26* and i have an aircurtain going the length of the back of the tank, i also break the surface tension with my power head, keeps the surface moving around nicely. Thanks for all the help

 

[WILDER]

Thats fine then.
Just keep a close eye on them.
Looks out for excess slime and spots.