Troubleshooter

Why is my fish flashing or scratching against rocks?

Quick answerFlashing (scratching against decor) almost always means parasites - ich, velvet, flukes. Test water first to rule out ammonia. Then quarantine + treat with appropriate medication.

Possible causes (5)

1. Ich (white spot disease)

Most common parasite cause. Look for white salt-grain spots within 2-3 days of flashing onset. See /diseases/ich-saltwater/ or /diseases/ich-freshwater/.

2. Gill or body flukes

Microscopic flatworms cause itching. Treat with PraziPro 7-day course in QT.

3. Velvet (saltwater)

Gold/bronze dust appearance + rapid breathing + flashing. URGENT: copper treatment in QT.

4. Ammonia + nitrite irritation

Toxic water burns gills. Test water; flashing without visible spots may be water quality.

5. Water chemistry mismatch

pH shock or salinity crash. Verify parameters match species needs.

What to do next

Test water first - many "behavior" issues are actually water-quality problems. Use the water parameter checker to score your test results, the disease symptom matcher if you observe physical signs, or the general diagnoser to narrow further. Browse the full disease database if illness is suspected.

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