Flicking

[ClaireN]

Hi to all who read this .

I’ve got a question for you. I’ve noticed that some of my Platy’s seem to flick or rub them selves now and again on either the plants, cave or gravel, last night I noticed that my heavily pregnant Platy flicked herself on the grave about 5 times in a row, is this normal behaviour or is there something wrong? The two that I noticed doing it a couple of times last week seem to of stopped now, but now two of the others have started. Other than that they seem fine, eating well, swimming around.

Should I be worried.

 

[The-Wolf]

flicking is generaly a sign of a water quality issue
what are your water parameters?

other causes are skin flukes or other external parasites.

 

[ClaireN]

flicking is generaly a sign of a water quality issue
what are your water parameters?

other causes are skin flukes or other external parasites.

[snapback]906022[/snapback]​

My test yesterday came out at ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5 - 10, are these ok im afraid i cant remember my PH as im at work, can post it when i get home.

They are not doing it all the time just now and again.

 

[The-Wolf]

yep your stats are ok.
as long as the pH is in the safe zone 7-8 then it is not the water,
that leaves an ectoparasite, most proberbly flukes.
what are flukes?

 

[ClaireN]

yep your stats are ok.
as long as the pH is in the safe zone 7-8 then it is not the water,
that leaves an ectoparasite, most proberbly flukes.
what are flukes?

[snapback]906038[/snapback]​

Just got home and have done a PH test it came out between 7.5 and 8, so is that a little high.

My tank is fairly new but the ammonia and nitrite readings have been at 0 now for two weeks. I did make the usual newbie mistake of putting the fish in before the tank had cycled, could this also be a cause?

Thanks for your help on this, i am worried about them, especially the pregnant one, she is so fat she looks like shes going to burst

 

[The-Wolf]

I would do a small water change now (20% or so) and half that amount tomorrow.
if there is no improvement, IE the flicking continues, re-assess the situation.

 

[ClaireN]

I would do a small water change now (20% or so) and half that amount tomorrow.
if there is no improvement, IE the flicking continues, re-assess the situation.

[snapback]906079[/snapback]​

Have done a 20% water change as you suggested and will do another smaller one tomorrow. Thanks for all your help.

C

 

[JDS]

I once saw similar behaviour on one of my fish...
On closer inspection i found that there was what looked like a blister on the side of the fish...
Closer still, and i realised it was a fish louse.
I had to physically remove it with a pair of tweezers.

I think i found this experience more distressing than the fish, which lived happily for some time after this
Cheers
JDS