Royal Gramma flashing

[Hellic]

I've noticed my royal gramma flashing pretty frequently; he'll scratch both of his gills on the sand. I see absolutely no signs of ich, and he's been doing this for maybe 2 months. He was quarantined with prazi and metroplex, no copper treatment. I haven't seen anyone else in the tank flashing. Is this just a gramma thing?

 

[Sean Clark]

Any pics?

 

[Max The New reefer]

I've noticed my royal gramma flashing pretty frequently; he'll scratch both of his gills on the sand. I see absolutely no signs of ich, and he's been doing this for maybe 2 months. He was quarantined with prazi and metroplex, no copper treatment. I haven't seen anyone else in the tank flashing. Is this just a gramma thing?

Had one for two years, he would do that sometimes, might be a coincidence or its just a grammar thing, traded him for two mocha clowns

 

[Hellic]

Here is video and pics

 

[Sean Clark]

Definitely scratching in the video. The pics look good aside from the white specs on the fins.

 

[Sean Clark]

@vetteguy53081 any ideas?

 

[tanked4u]

Anecdotally, my gramma would flash occasionally for no apparent reason and then stop. I suspected it was stress related from losing his battle against his reflection in the glass. He would get really fired up charging at his reflection.

If he is eating well, you may want to consider adding some Selcon or similar vitamin to the food.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Scratching is almost a sure sign of flukes. You can give this fish a freshwater dip for 5 mins in water the same temperature as display tank.
After this period, look on bottom for container for what looks like mini sesame seed or fish scales with flashlight. If you can see any- those are flukes
If none, other possibility is velvet which does not show early stage.

 

[J.D.]

I'd be concerned, Ich can me managed in a health tank, but as soon as something stresses out the inhabitants it can run wild. I prefer pest elimination in a QT setting.

 

[Hellic]

Sounds like i just need to get him into a hospital tank setting and start him on a treatment. My only on hand options are prazi, metro, & coppersafe. Im thinking maybe start him on prazi and then switch to copper? Or should i start with copper and do prazi as a final treatment.

 

[Hellic]

Or possibly hit the DT with prazi and move the gramma to qt for copper

 

[J.D.]

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

Current QT best practices

 

[Hellic]

I decided to treat the display with prazipro. If it is flukes, then the scratching should stop. Im not convinced its ich. I thought ich looked more salty like. The spots are tiny and hardly even visible IRL. Not sure if its more of a camera effect. Not ruling out velvet yet so ill see if the prazipro resolves the issue.