So Discouraged...thought I was doing it all right this time

[JR8999]

I have a purple firefish I had in QT for over a month and added it to the DT a few days ago. There are also a couple of oc clowns and 2 cleaner shrimp and some snails. Today I noticed the firefish flashing on the sand every once in a while. The only major change is that I added a new skimmer yesterday and the tanks is micro bubble mania. I looked very closely at the firefish and he looks pristine and good color. He has been eating well. Normal behavior? ....or some disease (uggh)

 

[Spar]

What QT method did you do? Give it some time to see if maybe the bubbles are just annoying them or maybe some other irritant.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, what quarantine protocol did you use? After a month, it is not likely to be one of the "heavy" parasites (such as velvet), however.

 

[JR8999]

I put him in my 10qt and just observed. No meds. Be acted totally normal the whole month. I made sure temp and salinity were matched and moved him

 

[snorvich]

I put him in my 10qt and just observed. No meds. Be acted totally normal the whole month. I made sure temp and salinity were matched and moved him

Given that, it is not velvet or brook which would have exhibited symptoms within this time frame. However, ich would not exhibit symptoms necessarily (could be in the gills) which is why I always use tank transfer for all fish prior to observation for another 4 weeks. This eliminates ich from the equation completely.

 

[JR8999]

So now what do I do? Showing no symptoms but occasional flashing

 

[HumbleFish]

So now what do I do? Showing no symptoms but occasional flashing

I wouldn't do anything until you have more evidence that this is a disease related problem. Right now it seems as though microbubbles irritating his skin/gills is the most likely explanation. If he's still flashing a day or two after the microbubbles clear, then I would be concerned.

 

[triggreef]

I'd also wait out. Even if it were to have ich as long as its otherwise healthy you have time to wait until you can be more affirmative.

 

[JR8999]

Thanks. Will waiting it out affect the OC clowns at all though?

 

[DasCamel]

Did you clean the new skimmer with vinegar or anything?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

That's really your call. You could pull the fish out and do a FW dip to see if it's flukes or you could leave it alone and see what other symptoms appear. Out of curiosity what does your pH run?

 

[HumbleFish]

Thanks. Will waiting it out affect the OC clowns at all though?

*Big* IF the firefish has a disease; then odds are it's already "waterborne" & the clowns now have it too. The goods news, as snorvich pointed out, is because you QT'd for at least 1 month then this is not likely to be marine velvet or brook. Odds are you could be dealing with either ich or flukes. Both are treatable; and for flukes there is actually an effective in-tank treatment option (Prazipro).

But again, I think it's too early to QT or use any medications just yet. Newsmyrna80 suggestion to FW dip would at least confirm flukes, if the fish has them.

 

[JR8999]

Ph is 8.2

 

[JR8999]

Also checked ammonia 0 and nitrates 7

 

[snorvich]

Also checked ammonia 0 and nitrates 7

Nitrates is virtually irrelevant for fish. (although not for inverts)

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Ph is 8.2

Ok. I would just wait and see if anything develops.

 

[JR8999]

I'm so hoping it's nothing but I'm guessing I'm kidding myself. There has to be some reason he is flashing.

 

[Spar]

FWIW, i have a yellow coris wrasse that flashes quite a bit. I've never known why and never seen external indications of ich (e.g. white spots) on any of my fish. Perhaps some just like the feel of rubbing on something...?

 

[Alamogordo]

New to the hobby. What exactly is flashing? I've got a 6 week old tank and notice one of my fairy wrasse will occasionally brush itself against some rock - especially after a water change. Is that flashing? (My apologies for hijacking)

 

[snorvich]

New to the hobby. What exactly is flashing? I've got a 6 week old tank and notice one of my fairy wrasse will occasionally brush itself against some rock - especially after a water change. Is that flashing? (My apologies for hijacking)

Yes, that is flashing. Always best to start your own thread for best attention as you will get lost in an existing thread.