Foxface swimming like crazy

[pipsqueak]

I have a foxface, 6 green chromies, a spotted mandarine goby, a feather duster, a brittle star, 10 snails, and about a dozen hermit crabs in a 55 gallon tank. The foxface has bee fine for 3 or 4 months and has just suddenly started swimming fast back and forth along the back, top portion of the tank. Back and forth, back and forth, not at top speed but pretty fast, and doesn't stop until an hour or 2 after the lights turn off in the evening. I think he's stressed out but I can't tell why. I tested the water the other day and everything looks good and all the other life in the tank seem perfectly happy. Does anyone know what could be wrong and/or what I can do to help him?

 

[lsu]

I had one do the same thing when it outgrew my tank. It eventually got to the point where he would knock over rocks and corals.(they are not easy to catch).

 

[puffer32]

I had a the same thing happen with a pygmy angel in a 15 gal. I upgraded to a larger tank, he doesn't do it anymore.

 

[michaeltx]

also check for stray voltage going into the tank. the larger fish will react faster than the smaller ones. with all the electric equipment in the tank if one shorts out it can cause a voltage problem and cause symptoms like this.
Mike

 

[pipsqueak]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
also check for stray voltage going into the tank. the larger fish will react faster than the smaller ones. with all the electric equipment in the tank if one shorts out it can cause a voltage problem and cause symptoms like this.
Mike
Thanks so much for the information. We started unplugging the pumps, etc one by one and he just stopped swimming and rested as soon as the protein skimmer turned off. You could almost see the relief on his face. Anyways we plugged everything back in, including the protein skimmer, and he's fine. We're going to be looking into a new skimmer though. I don't want to put him through that again.

 

[michaeltx]

good thing you found it that fast sometimes its even harder to find out where its coming from. just to throw it out invest in a titanium probe about 20$ it will help draw out any stray current in the tank.
Mike