weird behavior

[Darbex]

For a while now I have noticed that my fish have been diving to the bottom of the tank and rubbing their sides on the bottom. I have sand substrate that I got from Mike. I have not noticed them doing this when I was using small rocks as substrate. Has anyone else noticed this and what the reason is?

[mrairportjunke]

Re: weird behavior

might be a parasite or somehting on them.  have you introduced anything new to the tank lately??

[rrocket2002]

Re: weird behavior

Check your water.  Could be ammonia is too high.  I'd do a 30-50% water change.

Raul

[eklikewhoa]

Re: weird behavior

Anything from ich to bad or drastic change in water parameters but if they rarely do it then it's normal.

[Mzungu]

Re: weird behavior

Are they "flashing?" Or does it seem more of a deliberate, slower behavior?

[Darbex]

Re: weird behavior

By flashing I assume you mean they do it quickly and not opening their coats? Yes they do it quickly and they will all do it. It might be water parameters because thinking about it they dont do it after water changes. Sometimes I dont do it as often since I have to work a lot. I bought a water test kit so I will take a sample after water change and then take a sample when i see them do it.

[Darbex]

Re: weird behavior

So I tested the water using the new kit I bought and here are the parameters
Alk 1.7-2.8
pH 7.8
NO2 .05
NO3 5.0
Ammonia .25
Assuming I did it right but I followed the directions it would seem everything is within norm. I noticed today that my Blue Ahli as begun the rubbing again. But I do not notice anything wrong like infections and what not.

[Brownsnoutuk]

Re: weird behavior

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0.0

Are you sure the Nitrite is .05? My test kits starts at .25. If its .5, then id do a water change tonight. Your tank isnt cycled yet.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: weird behavior

Like Brown stated....from the parameters your tank is either not cycled or going to a mini-cycle.

[Darbex]

Re: weird behavior

That was tested two days after a 40-50% change. According to the chart it says that the Nitrite and Ammonia is within norm. Is it wrong?

[Darbex]

Re: weird behavior

It might have something to do with my over feeding problem. But here is where I am confused everything I see you should feed enough for them to eat within 2-5 minutes. Well what I feed them they devour it within 1 minute and yet there are still the su-b-dominate males that are not getting enough since there stomachs look like they are starving. So I am at a loss as to what needs to be done. Its like a viscous cycle any ideas? I only have about 20 or so in the 125 gallons

[Zulaab]

Re: weird behavior

Darbex - how many fish you have in the tank ?  You may want to count them and make sure there is not one missing that could have potentially died somewhere in the tank where you cannot see it and its decomposing.  
I would work on getting a 50% water change done asap.  Like everyone is saying, your tank is not cycling correctly, or there is something else going on.  If you just replaced the filter material that could be your problem.  Are they scratching their gills or body...  if they hit head first (ie gills) most likely its going to be an ammonia issue, and a water change is a MUST or else you risk burning their gills.  If burnt then they stay unhappy for long periods of time..

my 2c worth.

[Darbex]

Re: weird behavior

I did find one of the females dead a month ago and have done 2 water changes since then and replaced filter media on the wet/dry but have not cleaned out the canister but the canister is a much smaller filter than the wet/dry. They are rubbing head first in the sand. Any ideas on the feeding?

[Zulaab]

Re: weird behavior

Darbex, what tester are you using to test for ammonia ?   If you are not using a freshwater drop tester, you need to borrow one from someone or if worst come to worst I can drop by and lend you mine.
Ammonia build up come from decaying matter, may it be food, fish doo doo, or dead fish, something is making your tank cycle high again.
When is the last time you cleaned out your canisters or your wet/dry ?

[Mzungu]

Re: weird behavior

That was tested two days after a 40-50% change. According to the chart it says that the Nitrite and Ammonia is within norm. Is it wrong?

In a word, yes! Any readings for nitrite or ammonia are not normal in a cycled tank.

As for the food issue...I'm not sure. As long as there isn't leftover food, overfeeding shouldn't be a problem. Do the dominant males look healthy and/or fat? Sometimes my fish go crazy at first and devour everything in sight, and the slower ones don't get a chance. But eventually the fast ones start chewing, which allows the slower ones to grab their dinner. Maybe even feeding a few different kinds of food, or one that sinks slowly so everyone can have more of an opportunity to eat. Then again, I don't have cichlids, so that might be one of those problems that never goes away...