KerryO Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Hi all, the other day I bought two blackline flying foxes, to eat the algae of my plants. One does the job well, the other spends most of its time racing up and down the glass in monotunous regular patterns, at breath taking speed. It occasionally stops and has a quick nibble, but then just resumes this behaviour. I don't think its normal behaviour. Can someone advise please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Sounds like he's got ADHD, I think the treatment is ritalin. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 29, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Well I don't know what's going on, but this morning he's back to normal schooling with the other one, doing their job of cleaning the tank. I thought I would find him dead, just from sheer exhaustion if anything. I noticed he calmed down a lot last night when I turned off the light. I'll wait and see what happens by the end of today, perhaps to much light upsets them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Perhaps there is something in your tank upsetting it. I assume the 2 came from the same tank in the same place? Seems odd if one was affected and not the other. Maybe it just needed time to adjust and you will have no further problems. I think I have heard others mention their fish doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 I have one that sits on top of my powerhead with his tail fin hanging over into the stream of running water. Its like hes trying to swim a million miles an hour without moving.... then when he's tired he schools with the rest... cool really... 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 I have noticed that mine does that when stressed. e.g. when I moved him to new tank. When new fish were put in with him. etc. Maybe it is just their way of 'smoking' drinking or overeating?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 The same thing has happened again today, the fish starts of good for 2 or 3hrs in the morning, then as the day progresses it gets more crazy. By late afternoon it's going 100mph around and around the end panel of the tank. I'm wondering if my temp is set too high, currently 80 F. I've just been reading a book that states 75F as average for community tanks. I have noticed that the shops are usually 80+, perhaps they set their temps high to make the fish more active and hence more attractive. Does anybody know what temp is ideal for flying foxes? and is my temp of 80 too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 More seriously...Maybe he just likes running back and forth in front of the glass? There's nothing saying he has to act exactly like all the other fish and that he has to act the same all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 Kerry. My temp is exactly 24.5C (76.1F). I have 5 of the Siamease Flying Foxes and 2 of the normal ones. My tank is a real mixture, comunity to the max. I would think you temp is prettly much spot on. I would be cautious about changing the tank parameters for just one fish, it may have an adverse effect on the others (based also on the fact you other one is fine). Fish do crazy things, I think Ira is right. Just let it be. Also do you check your water paramaters? Maybee you have high Nitrates or amonias or something? Maybee even a good old fashion lack of oxygen? Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 My ammonia tests =0 Ph =7.2 I just went and bought a Nitrate test kit and it reads 0, is that normal? I got some plant food addative as well, as my new growth was a little too yellow (lack of iron). Algae is a bit of a problem (green) but the new bristle noses are getting it well under control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 Nitrate of 0 is good. Means you have good biological filtration and not too much decay. PH 7.2 should be fine for a comunity, infact mine is also 7.2. Yellowing plant leaves can come from a lack of Iron as well as a lack of potassim. Its good to dose some iron supliment. I use 'leaf zone' 2ml every 4 hrs in my 400ltr tank. Sounds like you just have a crazy fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 That's what I reacon Pies, his head will be on the block soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 I had a skunk Corydoras cat that used to go hard around the tank glass. Went on for months. He is still alive I read in a book once about lack of oxygen. Its says yoy may notice that fish hang around the top of the tank or move eractacly. Maybee fire in an airstone or lower you water level so your filter input crashes the surface. I doubt this is it though just because your other fish seem fine. Good luck, keep us informed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 No I don't think it's a lack of oxygen, I have two air inlets creating quite a stir on the surface of the tank. I've hung a towel over the end of the tank, and he won't go near it now. In fact he's joined the other flying fox and they are cleaning and playing in formation. I'll wait and see what the longer term effect of this is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 If you are sure you don't have probs with your other fish, I agree, he's probably just a show off. If you have recently added new bristlenose they may have brought something in....check for ich or have a really close look at your other fish for signs of anything. I had a runt once that spazzed out whenever the tank parms went out by a fraction, it always got sick first so if he was happy the rest were happy. (Unfortunately he succumbed ). peety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilo Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 I've never stuck my head in the tank and looked out, but maybe he can just see his reflection in the glass and wants to "hang out" with the more handsome school? :roll: Either that or there’s an equally crazy mozzie on the other side that he wants to get at! By the way why are crazy fish in these forums always referred as a "he" Seriously I also don't think temperature would be the cause. My tank went off the scale ( over 30C - 86F ) for a couple of days last month. Lost 2 tetras but the SAE's where still happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted March 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 Shilo, I'm pretty sure that when you are inside the tank looking out, it's no different than being inside your house and looking out of the windows. If it is light outside the tank then the fish can see out fine, if it is dark outside and light inside then the fish will see their own reflections in the glass. In the interests of science and to enlighten other members of this forum I think Shilo should stick his head in his tank and confirm or deny this. Don't forget to turn the lights on and off in the room while you are doing it. Seriously though, the towel trick didn't work for long. I really bought the fish as a working fish, not a show off one, if he or she doesn't get their act together soon they are out. The Bristle Noses are fantastic workers, worth every cent. One of them has made his base hanging upside down on a piece of driftwood, in the flow of bubbles fron the airstone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shilo Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 Hey that was fun!! Combined it with shampooing my hair and can now confirm that your theory is correct and fish do blow bubbles :lol: Don't right her off to fast as she still has to eat ( Probably more so with the amount of exercise she is getting), and she will either give up chasing the imaginary mozzie or else wear through the glass. If she starts losing condition then worry and consider replacing her. The SAE's in my tank are great for cleaning the more delicate leaf plants which the Bristlenose is to "clumsy" to attach to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 Hahaha, now I want to get a pair of swimming goggles and dunk my head in MY tank. Actually, I just had a thought...Something like an inexpensive webcam covered in shrinkwrap to make it watertight and dropped in the tank...Hehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janey Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 I have a Silver Shark who always hangs out at the end of the tank, nose against the glass wiggling from side to side. I always figured that he was either admiring himself or thought that he could see another Silver Shark? Maybe my theory could be wrong if in fact the fish can see out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety Posted April 1, 2003 Report Share Posted April 1, 2003 Its probably more like a one sided mirror (or two sided, or false, or whatever it is...) , anyway, if theres more light on the outside, you can see out, but if theres less you get a reflection, so the back corner is probably a mirror from the inside, and the front is a window. Don't dump the sae !!! They really are worth their weight in gold !! If he's putting on weight he's helping.... :-? I like the camera idea.... I'm off to get a cheapie usb and see what it looks like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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