how much flecking is normal

ryhno · 31-07-2011, 05:18 PM

hi guys i was wandering how much flecking the fish do every day would be normal and when would one be concernd its a sign of trouble , i see my fish doing it ever day normaly after a feed but not excessivly i dont think .?
cheers kevin

Gazfish · 31-07-2011, 05:38 PM

Hi Kevin,

Fish will flick or flash at any irritation so this can be water issues or parasites and also if they have an odd itch but I would not want to see my fish doing it too regular.

Is it one fish or more and how many times do they do it and is it only when feeding?

Have you tested the water or done anything different lately and how long have they been doing this?

Doghouse Riley · 31-07-2011, 05:47 PM

This has come up before and as has been suggested it can be indicative of some parasitical infection if it is persistant.
However, the occasional "flash" may indicate nothing. Also it is known that if one does a few flashes, others may copy them, a couple of times, "just to wind you up," then they'll get bored with it and all stop doing it.
The other situation is that if there's a rough part in a pool, i.e. in a fibreglass lined one, fish have been known to "flash" or rub up against it and seriously injure themselves.

ryhno · 31-07-2011, 05:57 PM

thanks for the reply
to answer gazfish theres about three or 4 that do it every day usually after a feed they have done this since they have been in the pond getting on for 8/9 weeks now... i have noticed when a couple of them do it ..as in doghouses reply the others seem to copy them ... so all in all i see most at least 1/3 of the fish flecking every day and not only after they have been fed , the only thing i have done reently is added some medi clay , i treated with pp 4 weeks ago as id introduced some plants from an unfilterd pond.... my filter seams to be settling in now as my weekly water tests show water ok
ph 8
no2 0.05
no3 0.05
nh 4 0.05
and been stable for couple weeks

Gazfish · 31-07-2011, 09:35 PM

Hi Kevin,

I personally would think about looking into this a bit more what with adding new fish and plants to your system as I think they are flashing a bit too much so a few out and a scrape may well be a good idea to see what is going on just in case.

jacksdad · 31-07-2011, 09:42 PM

Hi there,

I PPd my pond for trich on wednesday,Fish are still flicking and flashing but i also found flukes,my pond is only a few weeks old,so presuming the fish had the parasites from source,saying that two of the fish never do it? i have watched carp in a lake flash on the bottom but usually when feeding, is it part of natural behaviour?Think i worry about it to much

regards Jason

AlanK · 31-07-2011, 10:03 PM

Its worth a scrape to be sure. I introduced some water hyacinths to a qt tank last year, a week or so later 1 fish died. A scrape revealed costia.

ryhno · 31-07-2011, 10:55 PM

thanks gazfish and jason

ill have to try catching one or two to have a scrape done as i havnt a microscope yet .... catching one mmmmm hard to catch them in my pond as ive lillys in the middle and some round edge plus rushes ...when they see that net comming they laugh at me

regards
kev