Is "tipping" a part of possible courtship behavior?

[jwcarlson]

Well, it's been a couple months since my last discus death so I'm about due for another chronic problem. I didn't even post about it here because I feel it was inevitable. Fish had quit eating for... a long time. Tried levamisole and it tried to eat a bit. I isolated it, did metro and eventually "Wormer X", which I cannot recall the active ingredient. Flubendezole? Anyway, providing that solely as context.

This checkerboard, the last couple days has been doing this tilting or tipping I've noticed both head up and head down posture. Also a little side-to-side. I'm not seeing any other fish doing it. Fish seems in control, there's no thrashing. If I walk over they come beg as normal, including that fish. It's not constant. It doesn't seem panicked. It's also fast twitching it's pectoral fins periodically. Also seems to be stretching it's dorsal and anal fins as part of or leading up to said tipping/tilting.

Hopefully I'm being paranoid, but I feel like something's off. I'll see if I can get a video, but here's a picture.

20240417_120952.jpg

It is occasionally more extreme than in the picture.

[brewmaster15]

Jacob, tipping not really. What is though is when the arch up to each coming together like a McDonalds arch. I'm thinking that given all the info you posted your checkerboard is unwell.

al

[jwcarlson]

Got a video of an average tip.

[jwcarlson]

Jacob, tipping not really. What is though is when the arch up to each coming together like a McDonalds arch. I'm thinking that given all the info you posted your checkerboard is unwell.

al

Thanks, Al... that's kind of what I was thinking... like I said... feels like I'm due for another one.
Wish I knew what I'm screwing up.

[brewmaster15]

Jacob, I would try a salt dip. The fish in the video is doing something that Discus will sometimes do if theres an external irritant.. Its not just tilting... Its got a slight tremor going on(watch the dorsal fin timemark 36-40) and if you look carefully, time mark 54-57 you can see the other pigeon come up to its side and nip it. Thats basically your checkboard saying to its tank mates... Got an itch here I can't reach. I am reading into this a bit much here, and giving the fish more credit than I should but I bet that fish has an external issue thats bothering it. Could be flukes, could be just bacteria.

Just a suggestion.


As to what you are doing wrong... Probably just forgetting that they are fish.

[jwcarlson]

Jacob, I would try a salt dip.

2 tablespoons per gallon, let it ride and net it back in after it rolls?

[jwcarlson]

Would there be any benefit to treating the tank? As in there's something external that needs to be dealt with? I have praziquantel and cyromazine (CryoPro). Probably other stuff I can't recall.

[brewmaster15]

2 tablespoons per gallon, let it ride and net it back in after it rolls?

Yes


Jacob, do you have fmg..formalin malachite green? Or rid ich which is pretty much fmg. Or straight formalin? These are fair choices if theres something external going on. But if its just this one fish.. it maybe just a local irritant .. see if the salt dip improves its behavior.