Flashing?

**WaMiss** · 10-11-2011, 10:23 PM

What exactly does a fish do to flash? I've seen the term used a lot, but what is it?

**Trillianne** · 10-11-2011, 10:49 PM

Essentially... they are scratching at an itch. They will rub or briefly touch something in the tank to relieve the itching.

Because of how their scales look under illuminated water, the light catches and it looks like a little flash of light off the scales. (Because let's face is... fish scratching involves whole body contortion)

**genocidex** · 10-11-2011, 11:02 PM

thanks trillianne. never knew that thought my fish were just wierd lol.

**WaMiss** · 10-11-2011, 11:31 PM

Thanks Trilliane! So if they "Flash" it doesn't necessarily mean ich right? I've never seen my fish do it, but just curious. Although obviously it can be a sign of ich. Right?

**Trillianne** · 10-11-2011, 11:41 PM

No its not 100% indicative of ich. If it happens quite a bit then its a sign something is up, but not that its for certain ich related.

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-12-2011, 02:07 AM

I had a blood parrot that would scratch herself for several days on rocks and driftwood just before she spawned. Weirdo. She stopped as soon as spawning began. But the fish I had that scratched the most was my clown loaches if I lay a piece of slate in the bottom of the tank. They used to love to slide around on that slate, lay upside down in a pile and do lots of nutty things on that slate. No flashing, per se. Just loved that smooth surface.

**ldoerr** · 10-13-2011, 04:20 PM

Lady Hobbs do you have a video of that? I bet that would be fun to watch. I wish that I could get a clown loach tank.

**BiGBlak** · 10-13-2011, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Trillianne

No its not 100% indicative of ich. If it happens quite a bit then its a sign something is up, but not that its for certain ich related.

Good to know i used to think something was coming when i would catch my fish do that every now and then . I would pray they didnt have nothing or wasnt getting something .