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Flashing
By CrossboneVanguard from the Jon department, Section Ask Guppylog Posted on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 08:44:40 AM PST

Hello, I'm a new guppy keeper

I have a question about guppies scratching their gill plates. I had lost guppies from flukes before and I saw there were scratching their gill plates alot and then there were clamped fins. The flukes were cleared about a month and I got some new fish. I notieced some of the new guppies were scratching their gill plates. They don't do so often like the old ones that died. I kept african cichlids before and they sometimes scratched the bodies but I never had to use meds once and non ever died from diseases. Some workers in stores told me the fish were just ichy. Sould I put in meds whenever I see fish scratch or are they just ichy and I only have to put meds if they are scratching alot.

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Flashing | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)

If the flashing is regular, the likelihood of (none / 1) (#2)
by unclescott on Sat Feb 19, 2005 at 11:35:47 PM PST

flukes is very strong. Good call on your behalf.

Their situation and ability to share those flukes with their new tank mates is why quarantine and treatment with a deworming treatment is so important. There are quite a few wee beasties who can be cleaned out before they can do too much damage that way. And your regular aquarium isn't devastated and fry killed.

Please see the Quicklinks on Camallanus and disease prevention.

SL is correct, that scratching can be for other reasons, including polluted water, nitrite poisoning, a rapid acid drop or rapid pH rise and other external parasites and maybe lesser wee beasties. It is not just for recreational purposes though.

Not something I would leave un-responded to, for long. Start with more partial water changes. Medicate if it continues, maybe starting with a salt bath and only then using the anthelmintics and dewormers. Wild fishes, such as Apistogramma and many imported catfishes, can especially introduce flukes to a shop or tank.

All the best!
u.s.

The only other question I have is (none / 0) (#6)
by maggie1270 on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 06:32:43 PM PST

Would the flukes cause the fish to spit out food? I've got some fish that are not eating at all and some that cannot keep the flakes down.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Welcome aboard! (none / 1) (#1)
by Scott Lockwood on Sat Feb 19, 2005 at 09:17:20 PM PST

Anecdotally, I think a certain amount of flashing may be normal. Mine do it. There seems to be no ryhme or reason - they might just be bored! When in doubt, test your water. If that's fine, isolate the fish doing the flashing, and see if it stops, or gets better. Quarentine is your friend!

"I love to visit PetSmart's Tropical Fish Dept. to see what new diseases are around today." -- inkmaker

Re: Welcome aboard! (none / 1) (#3)
by guppygirl on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 03:49:07 AM PST

I agree with both of the Scotts' on this one.

I do notice that mine flash a bit more when they've eaten all the food that was floating on top.

Then they sometimes head to the bottom, and do some flashing.

It looks as if they're trying to stir up any food that fell into the gravel.

Lazy, or smart?

Just my thoughts, but it would be wise to follow their advice.

gg
:o)

[ Parent ]

Re: Welcome aboard! (none / 1) (#4)
by maggie1270 on Sun Feb 20, 2005 at 06:19:27 AM PST

Ditto! I keep an eye out and if it's only an isolated incident, I won't worry so much. But if it's not right after feeding time or if they do it on ornaments as well, then I would question. I've never heard of guppies being itchy for no reason though. That's a new one for me.
Maggie
[ Parent ]

Re: Welcome aboard! (none / 1) (#5)
by PeterW on Sun Feb 27, 2005 at 03:36:33 PM PST

I've observed that salt can make them flash too. After all, the point of salting the water is to irritate the skin and make them thicken the slime coating as a defense.

[ Parent ]

Flashing | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)

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