Flowerhorn swimming in circles

[DustyLou]

I have a 5" flowerhorn alone in a 55 gallon tank with sand bottom
He sometimes swims in vertical circles along the back of the tank.
When he gets to the bottom he turns himself upside down and hits his hump on the bottom of the tank.
Is he just entertaing himself or is he in pain?
Thanks

 

[Delapool]

Sounds strange to me would be my thought. Apart from catfish, etc; swimming upside down usually indicates a problem for my tank.

 

[Brookster123]

Does sound strange huh? Let's start with the basics. Water parameters??? What else is in the tank, how old is the tank, how long have you had the fish in question, what do you feed and will you provide a picture of the fish in question please.

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[DustyLou]

Nitrate 30, nitrite.5 , ph7,hardness 300 chlorine 0.
I have had him for about 3 months in a freshly cycled tank with only two plastic plants and a sandy bottom. He is alone.
I stole a peek at him and he was doing that funny upside down circle swim and when he saw me he stopped.
I just wonder if he is entertaining himself.

 

[DustyLou]

I am trying to post his photo

 

[Brookster123]

Shouldn't have any nitrites in a cycled tank. Sounds like it could be related to that. Google nitrite poisoning/shock.

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[DustyLou]

Ok, thanks