Denman

Whats it mean when my cichlids scrape there body on the rocks they don't do it often but i heard it means they are not healthy.

Shawnie

Hi denman...what are your water parimeters for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates? how long has the tank been running?

FL CommunityFans

Barring that your water parameters are good and the fish don't have any otehr issues, it could be perfectly normal. The term for what they are doing is called 'flashing'. Excessive flashing is when they bounce and rub their bodies nearly nonstop. If it's just an occasional thing, I'd not worry about it and consider it normal. Mine all do it from time to time.

Angela_96

This is the cichilds way of "cussing out" the other fish. They are showing aggression. Eventually will lead to a brawl in the tank.

FL CommunityFans

Oh yea, that too ;p When she says brawl, that's putting it lighlty I think!

Angela_96

Thats trying to say it in a nice way. I mean all out mouth fight, ram the sides of the fish upside the glass. (sorry my cichilds that are adults don't play nice)

FL CommunityFans

I agree. My hybrid afras ( ), well teh 2 biggest ones anyways, are now approaching 4-5"TL and went ona rampage the other day when I wasn't able to feed any of our fish due to the illness that was sweeping through the house. When I was able to check the tank the next day, I found 2 dead smaller female afras and 4 of my male msobo's beat up a bit. The 2 males went under the rock work and cleared out ALL substrate and were flared to the max, glass banging, and challenging anyone who came in their areas. My biggest msobo, who is a female finally had enough of the bologna and started swimming nuts all over the tank. She went down rammed in to the both of them, one after the other, then started doing the bouncing off every rock in their area. Each of those afras hunkered down in their holes and didn't come out til she had gone back to the top where she usually patrols.


When they say female msobo's are a beast when ready to spawn, they aren't kidding. I'm gonna have to get rid of the hybrid afras... even as pretty as they are.. they stay too angry for the rest of the tank.

Denman

My Ammonia is at 1.0. My nitrite is at 0.50. and my nitrate is 5.0.
WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!

tomchitown

If i'm not wrong you should do a 30% to 50% water change and use stress coat ...your ammonia and nitrIte should be at 0

Angela_96

I agree with doing daily waterchanges until the ammonia and nitrites are -0-. However, the use of stress coat in an african cichild tank is a no-no it causes the pH to drop.
I would use novaquel or amaquel+

Escobar

Also, just to note that excessive 'flashing' can also be a sign of parasite in the fish and you may need to give it a course of medicine.

Angela_96

The malawi's are known for "flashing" showing their aggression.

Denman

Yea I think they are healthy. THey don't do it excessively, i just saw a few do it one day and thought maybe something was wrong.

Elaine.oshea

And here I was thinking "oh isn't that pretty when he does a little dance like that". Guess I have a lot to learn!!

FL CommunityFans

Oh... they dance too, and usually in my tank if someone is dancing that means impending war is on the horizon for at least the next 48hours.

deathtroll

I like to watch them dance but to deal with the aftermath can be a challenge when it comes to healing a fish or taking care of the fry

erikcoley

when my oscars flashed the next morning there was some banged up heads rocks and driftweood moved all over and a J.D. in the corner crappin his fins