Thanx for responding Natalie. It started late August, early September. I had four odessa barbs (all rip now.. not from parasites, but from the aquarium salt i used to try and cure), blackskirt tetras (which i've seen flash only a couple times), cory cats (only a couple times), and gold wonder killifish (which doesn't really flash but more or less scrapes his under throat area against plant leaves (artificial) or on the driftwood). i bought 4 more odessas, and now 1 of them has started. I haven't seen the skirts or cories doing it at all lately and for awhile now, but the others on occasions. No signs of injuries or spots, all lively and with GOOD appetites.

Thanx for responding as well Okiimiru. Did you ever try and treat for this, and if so what did you use? From what I've read, this is not "normal" behavior in fish. It was said that its as if something {parasites} is "biting" at them, and they flash or scrape in an attempt to dislodge whatever "it" is.

Oh I've used plenty of antibiotics and antiparasitics over the years. Never have my livebearers not 'flashed'. I know they do it more when the water is dirty, but they never stop doing it completely.

The funny thing is during the years I kept pygmy sunfish I never saw them flash, not once. It really depends on what fish species you have, how prone they are to that moment. Elassoma don't make sudden movements. It's not in their nature. So even if they were super super itchy, they don't flash.