Chalk Bass dive-bombing sand

[thewalkingdad]

Purchased 3 chalk bass from one of Humble Fish's recommended vendors for pre-quarantined fish. They've been in my tank for over a week now. All of my other fish were quarantined by me using Humble Fish's HTTM. The other fish include 2 O. clownfish, royal gramma, purple firefish, zebra barred dartfish. Tank is 175 gallons. All tank parameters are within healthy reef ranges.

I've noticed one of my chalk bass will dive bomb the sand. He will be about 5-6 inches above the sand, dive-bomb the sand 2-3 times, and then won't do it again for hours. I haven't experienced any other odd behavior. He eats, swims, and breathes as expected.

I'm just guessing here, but it appears to be a form of scratching, which could be an early sign of ich. My coral and inverts were only quarantined for a minimum of a few weeks, not the full 76 days, so that could've been an infection vector. I also run UV at the protozoa flow rate as prescribed by the manufacturer.

I'd hate to try to catch the little guy and run a copper treatment if I don't have to. That can be incredibly stressful, especially on a juvenile fish. I can run treatment if necessary.

Any other thoughts? Anything I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Darrell Brady]

Following

 

[thewalkingdad]

Bump for advice

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Flashing can be more a sign of flukes than of protozoans. It can also be a behavior thing with some fish like wrasse.
Did your quarantine protocol address flukes (trematodes)?
Jay

 

[thewalkingdad]

Flashing can be more a sign of flukes than of protozoans. It can also be a behavior thing with some fish like wrasse.
Did your quarantine protocol address flukes (trematodes)?
Jay

Thanks, Jay. When I did the QT with my other fish, I did the HTTM, which should treat for flukes. The chalk bass were purchased from a pre-quarantined source. Their treatment process includes both copper and prazi treatments.

I wondered if it could be a behavioral issue, but only one of the chalk bass is exhibiting this type of scratching behavior.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks, Jay. When I did the QT with my other fish, I did the HTTM, which should treat for flukes. The chalk bass were purchased from a pre-quarantined source. Their treatment process includes both copper and prazi treatments.

I wondered if it could be a behavioral issue, but only one of the chalk bass is exhibiting this type of scratching behavior.

HTTM won’t eliminate Neobenedenia, and likely won’t control Dactylogyrids. Praziquantel doesn’t control Neo eggs either. One Neo on the fish’s head will cause flashing.
It may be nothing at all. Even if it is flukes, you’ll have time to deal with it. I would just watch for additional fish developing the flashing issue.
I do think that the quarantine process the fish have gone through pretty much rules out any protozoan issues.
Jay

 

[thewalkingdad]

HTTM won’t eliminate Neobenedenia, and likely won’t control Dactylogyrids. Praziquantel doesn’t control Neo eggs either. One Neo on the fish’s head will cause flashing.
It may be nothing at all. Even if it is flukes, you’ll have time to deal with it. I would just watch for additional fish developing the flashing issue.
I do think that the quarantine process the fish have gone through pretty much rules out any protozoan issues.
Jay

Thanks again, Jay. I did two doses of API GC as part of the HTTM. I thought would've addressed flukes, but maybe not.

Either way, as you said, if it is flukes, I should have some time to monitor and deal with it accordingly.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hyposalinity is the best/only treatment for Neo.

Jay

 

[Acros]

I believe that is normal behavior for chalk bass when kept in groups. There is some info about it on this thread.

The biggest Chalk Bass I've ever seen - and my experience keeping him.

This is a Chalk Bass. This guy was the first fish I ever purchased as a hobbyist. He has been with me happy and healthy for 2.5 years. I purchased him from my local LFS when he was very young. When I added him to the tank he was no larger than 1". The reading I've done says they top out at...

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