Damsel twitching! I need help

anto890 · 08/28/2014, 08:10 AM

I have a damsel in a nano that is staying up by the filter. It just went down to hide. I don't know why its twitching every second. He's not coming out but I can see him hiding. Is it insufficient air in the tank? I need help!

Crooked Reef · 08/28/2014, 08:22 AM

Could be a parasite. Could be lack of oxygen. Could be a build up of ammonia burning it's gills. We need as much info as possible. Tank age, how long it cycled, how long it's been past it's cycle and water parameters. Does the fish appear to have any damage, did colored or missing scales, or appear to be breathing heavy?

anto890 · 08/28/2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Reef

Could be a parasite. Could be lack of oxygen. Could be a build up of ammonia burning it's gills. We need as much info as possible. Tank age, how long it cycled, how long it's been past it's cycle and water parameters. Does the fish appear to have any damage, did colored or missing scales, or appear to be breathing heavy?

Tank age: 1 month, cycled: 3 weeks, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate less than 10.

Crooked Reef · 08/28/2014, 08:33 AM

Have you tested ammonia since the fish started twitching? It's possible that adding the fish could have spiked ammonia, especially if the tank wasn't fully cycled. Test now and if you see ammonia do a water change. Also if the fish has only been in for a week it is possible it has a parasite. If your current ammonia test shows 0 ppm I would repost this in the disease forum in case it is a parasite. You may get a quicker answer there.

anto890 · 08/28/2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crooked Reef

Have you tested ammonia since the fish started twitching? It's possible that adding the fish could have spiked ammonia, especially if the tank wasn't fully cycled. Test now and if you see ammonia do a water change. Also if the fish has only been in for a week it is possible it has a parasite. If your current ammonia test shows 0 ppm I would repost this in the disease forum in case it is a parasite. You may get a quicker answer there.

I'm going to do a water change.

08/28/2014, 08:10 AM	#1
anto890 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 19	Damsel twitching! I need help I have a damsel in a nano that is staying up by the filter. It just went down to hide. I don't know why its twitching every second. He's not coming out but I can see him hiding. Is it insufficient air in the tank? I need help! Last edited by anto890; 08/28/2014 at 08:20 AM.

08/28/2014, 08:22 AM	#2
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Could be a parasite. Could be lack of oxygen. Could be a build up of ammonia burning it's gills. We need as much info as possible. Tank age, how long it cycled, how long it's been past it's cycle and water parameters. Does the fish appear to have any damage, did colored or missing scales, or appear to be breathing heavy? __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

08/28/2014, 08:33 AM	#4
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Have you tested ammonia since the fish started twitching? It's possible that adding the fish could have spiked ammonia, especially if the tank wasn't fully cycled. Test now and if you see ammonia do a water change. Also if the fish has only been in for a week it is possible it has a parasite. If your current ammonia test shows 0 ppm I would repost this in the disease forum in case it is a parasite. You may get a quicker answer there. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.