Tin Foil Barb Issue...?

Question

I have 3 tin foil barbs, every now and then 1 tin foil get a red, sore-like, streak-thingy on its side...I know it's not Ick as it doesn't scrape on rocks, but what it does is twitch a little and swim fast from one side of the tank to the other...anyway it goes away when I keep the aquarium light off it seems to go away, but I don't think that's the reason it goes away though... any idea on what this could be?

Answer 1

There could be several things going on here.

1) Do you have any sharp objects in the tank?
Fish will tend to scrap and scratch themselves on things in the tank if the objects are to sharp
Cure: Remove the object from the tank and treat the tank with a general antibiotic to keep the fish from any secondary infection.

2) Do you have a heater?
There are times where fish will burn themselves on the heater in a tank if it is not properly sheilded. Some brands are worse than others.
Cure:reposition the heater so the fish cannot get stuck behind it, or move other items around the heater so the fish cant get close to it. Then treat the injured fish with a general antibiotic to eliminate any secondary infection.

3) It could be due to a parasite in the tank?
There are many parasites "bugs" in aquariums that can cause red streaks on fish. For example anchor worms are a common one.
Cure: Over the counter meds from the petstore.

4) How high is the ammonia level in the tank?
Sometimes if the ammonia levels in the tank start to rise many fish will show red streaks. Usually in the fins but it ocassionally moves onto the body.
Cure: water changes to lower the ammonia level

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

With three fish in the chance is you have at least two males and one female if this is the case maybe the males are trying to get the female to spawn and the red streaks are where they have banged against her. Usually these fish spawn at first light so when the light is off they consider it to be night time and rest.
If it is three males it could be teritorial rivalry and the one with the streaks is the subordinate one and is nervous of any movement so twiches and moves off quickly.

Answer 3

I think you should take a look at this website, and then google a cure, or ask petstores.(although many petstores have NO idea what there doing). It sounds like Hemorrhagic Septicemia, or another type of bacterial infection...GO HERE: http://aquafiend.plantedtank.net/disease.html GOOD LUCK!