MY AFRICAN PEACOCKS WERE SCRATCHING AGAINST OBJECTS NEVER SAW ONE SPOT OF ICK. NEVER LOST ONE FISH DO TO THIS.SO I LOOKED UP EVERYTHING SOME SAID THIS AND THAT. MY WATER IS FINE EXCEPT FOR NITRATES WHICH IS AROUND 40PPM.THE FISH ARE FINE AND HEALTHY.NTRATES HAVE NEVER CAUSED FISH TO SCRATCH.MAYBE UNLESS THERE OFF THE CHARTS. SO I DECIDED TO DO A TRAIL TEST. I KNOW THERE ARE PARASITES YOU CANNOT SEE WITH THE NAKED EYE. SO I TURNED UP THE HEAT TO 87F UP MY SALT AND USED MICROLIFT PARASITE MED.DAY1 STILL SCRATCHING DAY2 STILL SCRATCHING.DAY3 NO SCRATCHING.DAY4 WATER CHANGE STILL NO SCRATCHING EVEN AFTER A WATER CHANGE.DURING THIS TIME I KEPT UP WITH MEDS AND HEAT/SALT.EVERY 3 DAYS I DO A 15% WATER CHANGE. TODAY IS THE 5th DAY STILL NO FLASHING/SCRATCHING. WILL CONTINUE TREATMENT FOR ANOTHER 5 DAYS.SO FAR EVERYTHING IS GOOD,FISH LOOK GREAT!SO THE END OF MY STORY IS THIS IF YOUR FISH ARE FLASHING ITS A GOOD CHANCE ITS SOME SORT OF PARASITE OR BATERIA.IT DOSEN'T MEAN IT WILL KILL YOUR FISH JUST IRRITATE THEM LIKE CRAZY. SO PLEASE TELL ME WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS. TREAT OR NOT TREAT.

I'm glad you've found a treatment that seems to be working!

I would definitely treat, too. As you said, it irritates them like crazy, whatever this is. So that's reason enough! Not only must they be unhappy with the constant scratching but that's something that will get their immune system down and then they'll be susceptible to more health problems. It's good you've quickly nipped it in the bud!

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES1! NOW I HAVE HEARD OF UV STERILIZER ALSO WORK PRETTY WELL WICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT BATERIA IN THE WATER COULD ALSO CAUSE THIS.JUST MAKE SUR YOU GET ONE LIKE GREEN KILLING MACHINE.

yes set thr uv on a slower flow contact time with bateria and parasites is important 24watt uv works great. warning do not buy a cheap ebay one like sunsun. has been known to shed black stuff that can harm your fish.again go for greeen machine uv sterilizer

THE TANK U SEE IN THE PIC IS MY FORMER 135 GALLON AMERICAN CICHLID TANK.MOVED AND SINCE THEN I HAVE A 75 GALLON AFRICAN CICHLID TANK PEACOCKS.TO ANSWER YOUR Q?IN MOST CASES YOUR AFRICAN CICHLIDS WILL SCRATCH.NOW WHAT ITS DUE TO CAN BE SEVERAL THINGS SOMETIMES IN MOST CASES PARASITES OR BACTERIA.NOW I SAID MOST CASES NOT ALL I HAVE KEPT SOME IN TIMES PAST TREATED THE TANK FOR EVERYTHING AND THEY STILL SCRATCHED.SO THIS COULD BE WATER PROBLEMS.IN MOST CASES THE SCATCHING WON'T KILL YOUR FISH,UNLESS IT GET SOO BAD THEY START TO LOOSE SCALES THEN YOU MUST TREAT. OTHER WISE THEY WILL STAY HEALTHY AND LIVE.

Your scape is nice Markthecat, I like the placement of the driftwood and rock.
Is that real plant or artificial?