Sometimes fish will do that to show dominance or, "that's my spot". It's often done right in front of another fish as a display.
Marathon battle with flashing
- Thread starter snake_charmer
- Start date
I have had this in newly set up tanks where pecking order is being established. Loaches and fronts will do this until they are satisfied. Don't change much during this period and check no single fish is getting bullied to the point health is affected.
Having said that, those fronts are definitely going at and the smaller fella may need some help. With fish like this, I tend to build larger, quite a bit more than you have currently, line of site breaks. So should a fish swim around the rock pile, it essentially disappears. If the chaser can see any part of the chasee, the chase is on. Give each fish a nice large pile with covered areas to chill in. They will come into the open more confidently when able to retreat to safety at will.
Well, I finally managed to get a decent video of one of the Frontosas flashing several times in a short span, albeit not as aggressive as I’ve seen in the past from others but thought I would share.
youtube.com
125 gallon Blue Zaire/Clown Loach tank
S
snake_charmer
the latest video shows more of the behavior but I still don't think it is excessive.
Are you using any other products or chemicals besides a water conditioner? Any buffers whether commercial or home made? Plant fertilizers?
Have you ever checked your pH, GH or KH and if so, post the results.
Are you using any other products or chemicals besides a water conditioner? Any buffers whether commercial or home made? Plant fertilizers?
Have you ever checked your pH, GH or KH and if so, post the results.
Deeda,
I only use Prime during the water changes to condition the water. The only thing close to ferts that I started to use in the last month are root tabs by API and the flashing has been going on for 24 months prior to this, so it kind of rules out that variable. I’ll try to grab a water sample test in the next day or so here. I did a couple water changes (25%) this week and also replaced the filter floss at the bottom of each AC110. I appreciate you consistently chiming in to help.
from todays test prior to a 25% water change ph: 7.6-7.8
Nitrate: 15ppm
Gh/Kh: 60ppm/40ppm (had to use test strips and the bottle appears to be well past the expiration date, so I may need to find a more accurate and current testing method for this).
Well, I’ve discovered 2 Clown loaches look like they have wasting disease. I treated the tank with API general cure (2 separate treatments over the course of 48 hours) as per the directions but they’re not looking good. All fish continue to flash periodically but are active and eating healthy, with the exception of these two fish now. Water levels remain the same 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites, 10ppm nitrates at most.
