Clownfish swimming in quick darting circles

[Todd W.]

One of my black clowns, the male, started behaving very strangely on Friday night.  It is not the typical mating behavior that I have seen.  He is darting all over the main part of the tank in the center mainly in circles more like triangle or square as he darts straight turns and darts again.  He is not diving into the substrate or rubbing against things or looks to be blind.  He is acting maniacal... He is eating and his mate is behaving just fine.  Additionally his coloration is fading slightly.

I looked up whirling disease and he does have some of the symptoms.  I am getting ready to do a full panel on the water quality but just did a 1/2 water change about one week ago...

Any ideas?  I have heard that Ich can cause these symptoms but not sure where it could have come from.

[micki]

Isn't whirling disease caused by a parasite?  I could be completely wrong.

[Todd W.]

Only parameter that was high was Nitrates, came in at 40ppm, which is high.  Did a 50% water change just in case.

[larrynews]

nitrates wouldnt do that, are they mating, mine have been laying eggs like crazy

[Todd W.]

Not mating, however I could be wrong.  It doesn't look like mating behaviour but then again it could be, just different.  Just really odd, he was doing it this morning even with the lights off.  Everything else in the tanks seems OK....

[micki]

That woman has him swimming circles around her!  LOL

[Boonjob]

That woman has him swimming circles around her!

Pfth... More likely she is making him insane...

[micki]

Pfth... More likely she is making him insane...

  Good one...  NOT!