Heather M

I hate to look stupid, but I'm new to fish keeping. What is flashing?

Lucy

Hi Heather, I hope you don't mind, I moved your question to a thread of it's own. The other one was pretty old.
You don't look stupid.
How are you going to know if you don't ask, chances are someone else may be wondering the same thing.

Copied from our Aquarium and Fish Dictionary:

Flashing :
used to describe the quick darting or fish flashing against objects in the aquarium. This can be signs of the onset of a disease known as ICH in your fish. Watch them closely and hopefully, if they are new fish, they are in a quarantine tank where you'll be able to treat them effectively. If not, it may be a good idea to start getting a quarantine tank ready.

Heather M

My little brother's fish have been flashing lately. I just read the definition of ICH, and I think they have it. One of his platies had two small white spots on its face. It died while we were on vacation. My brother, Sean, hasn't bothered to do research on things like this. He didn't even notice they were flashing, and the tank is in his room. So, should I try to get my mom to buy the stuff to treat the fish? Almost all of them are flashing, but the platy that died is the only fish I've seen with white spots.

JennDFK

Fish can have ich without the white spots... You can either try meds or you can try raising the temp of the tank...

gmen4life

man sorry to hear it

Lucy

Although fish can die from ich, it doesn't sounds like the fish had it that bad if only 2 spots were showing.
Can you post the parameters?
If it is ich, you can slowly raise the temp to 84F leave it there for at least 2 weeks. Increase the aeration in the tank to make up for less oxygen in warmer water.
Thoroughly vacuum the gravel to pick up all the ich spores and do frequent water changes.
Flashing can also be a sign of other types of parasites (ich is a parasite, so without any other symptoms, I'd be hesitant to medicate the tank.
Using the wrong meds can do more harm than good.

gmen4life

doesnt sound good imo