crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
How in the world do I get my fish to stop doing this?
Skipping off gravel or decorations
- Thread starter crazychris
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Jesse W
Aquarium Advice Activist
Unfortunately that's something called "flashing"
It means your fish are uncomfortable, can be caused by bad parameters or disease such as ich or parasites. The occasional flash isn't always something to worry about. If its consistent then it's something to worry about.
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
Yeah, how often does your fish do it? Are there any visible spots on your fish that don't seem normal?
OP
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
Ok. It's not constantly that its happening. It happens most when the water gets changed so my thoughts are that the new water has to cycle through. Right now I'm treating my tank for some form of fungus or parasite since I had a cherry barb swell up around its tail and it was all white. The fish never wanted to move from where it was and didn't eat either.
jcolon
Aquarium Advice Addict
Agree with Jesse W on those possibilities.
Did you recently do a PWC? Sometimes replenishing of minerals / nutrients after a PWC causes flashing. Sometimes, it part of posturing fish do, especially if they're trying to establish dominance.
Did you recently do a PWC? Sometimes replenishing of minerals / nutrients after a PWC causes flashing. Sometimes, it part of posturing fish do, especially if they're trying to establish dominance.
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
Do you de chlorinate your water? straight tapwater contains chlorine which is poisonous to fish
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
There aren't any marks on my fish that I can see. They might do it a few times and then stop. After that its once in a while.
Jesse W
Aquarium Advice Activist
Well the flashing could be from the disease you mentioned, or could be from ph levels fluctuating. Check your ph levels from your tap water and compare it to your tank water.
Jesse W
Aquarium Advice Activist
+1! Good point
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
Ok. Are the API test strips any good to use? I used it once and it looks to me like the color code is upside down on the strips compared to looking at the bottle.
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
I would use the liquid kit, its much more accurate
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
I'll check both the same day I change the water. I also put salt in my tank since I've got a Silvertip shark in it. I think that might be another problem too.
Jesse W
Aquarium Advice Activist
The strips are notoriously inaccurate. I'd definitely invest in an API master test kit!
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
Ok I'll get that kit. My ph level read a 6 if I was looking at it right. I think it was the yellow colored dot on the strip and the bottle. Is that a low level?
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
Its a little on the acidic side but its hard to tell with the strips
Jesse W
Aquarium Advice Activist
Yupp, on the lower side. But most tank raised fish nowadays adjust to many ph levels just fine. Consistency is what is important.
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
Yes, sudden changes in ph can be fatal
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
Ok. After I get rid of this green mess in my tank I'll check it out then. I'm no longer asking the people at PetSmart anything since everything I've been told is totally wrong. I knew I should've gotten the liquid test.
willanderz
Aquarium Advice Regular
Petsmart is bad about just trying to sell you on stuff without really knowing what they're selling you
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crazychris
Aquarium Advice Activist
Thank you for all of your help. If I have anymore questions now I know where to go.
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