Maybe not ich...but what?

[jjj1100]

Ok, I have had my live rock for about 7 weeks, Bare bottom tank for right now. The water tests 0 Ammonia, 0 Nitirite, .2 nitrates, PH 8.2, SG 1.024, Temp is up to 80 -was 78. Live stock right now is 3 1inch Damsels, a 3 inch Niger Trigger, 2 inch Valenti Puffer, a 2 inch Hawian Blue spot puffer, and a 8 inch snow flake eel.

All the fish have been there at least 3 to 4 weeks. Just recently, the Niger has been scratching on the rocks all the time...and he is darting at the rocks swimming fast, then scratching against them. This has been going on for about 4 days, and in which time i have done 20% water changes daily.

The fish are being feed, flake, Krill, Trigger Formula, Formula 1 and formula 2...I mix it up dialy.

Any suggestions on the scratching, there is no signs of ich or any marking on any of the fish, I am just concerned becuase of the frequency of the scratching of the Niger. Everyone eles is acting normal....and unfortuantly I just got the QT set up...i know I SHOULD HAVE QT'd them...but I didn't.

I am open to any advice that anyone has, but I prefer NOT to try to catch the Niger...there is just no way to get all the rock out of the tank.

Thanks everyone

 

[kraze3]

My advice would be to watch them very closely. You shouldnt be trying to treat them until you know what it is, if anything, that they have. Watch the niger closely and look for signs of ich. Keep a close eye on him and look for anything that doesnt look right

 

[jjj1100]

oh...one other thing...the good news is that the niger has definately NOT lost his appetite...as soon as he sees me he flies to the feeding spot and inhales food as fast as he can...

 

[jjj1100]

only one person has had there fish scratch???
anyone else have any ideas?
there still is no signs of white spots on any of the fish.

 

[kevin2000]

Scratching is often a sign of a parasite issue .... however since you don't know what (if any) parasite/disease your dealing with you can't treat. Unfortunately there is no "cure all" and different parasites require different treatments/meds. In the interim you should do some research on setting up a QT.