I've read in multiple posts about fish "flashing". What exactly is that? Is it something they do? A condition they're in? Please help this 4 year noob out
Flashing is your first indictaion that something is amiss with your fish it will rub agaist rocks or against the side of the pond to try to scrape off that which is irritating them i;e parasite.
can be your first indicator that something is wrong and that your fish needs to be caught and given a scrape .
To do this you use a credit card type card hold the fish against the side of the net thn at an angle from just behind the gills and slowly but gentlyy scrape towards the tail, put this on a microscope slide and fix it with a small fixer so that you can then find out what parasite your fish has and through that as to what treatment your going to need
Flashing is when you see your fishing laying flat and rubbing quickly on surfaces or pond bottom. If they do it now and then, that's okay. If multiple times a day or multiple fish then that could indicate a issue. PH can cause this, parasites like flukes etc. Water quality should be checked and then go from there.
As RobAmy says it may also be an indicator that you could be having water quality issues so test your water especially Ph and Kh if these are wrong then obviously you should set about putting things right .
If when you have done this they still flash, then as our answer to you "scrape n Scope" .
Dave
