Ich: An Old Cure for an Old Disease
By Terry Ranson
From Vol. 2, No. 2, The Newsletter of The Tri-State Aquarium Society, January 2000
Aquarticles ...
Ich or Whitespot Disease is perhaps the most common disease encountered by freshwater aquarists everywhere, both beginning and advanced.
The trophozite form of ich, embedded in the fish’s skin, causing the white cyst. It is feeding from the surrounding flesh, preparing for the reproductive phase:
The trophozite has now matured into a trophont.
Ich in Freshwater Fish: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith ...
Ich, ick or white spot disease are all names for the effects of a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifilis. These parasites go through a life cycle that averages about 2 weeks in duration.
Ich most often causes the appearance of small white spots over the body and fins of fish. However, it is important to note that ich can present with many different appearances, and that other things besides ich can cause small white spots on the body.
Ich can be introduced into the aquarium via infected water, plants, substrates or fish. Some fish can in fact carry the parasite without actually ever being diseased themselves.
"Ich" = White Spots?
Over the past few months, I've spent a fair amount of time at the microscope, trying to get a better feel for which parasitic infections are common, as well as which medications are effective.
Saltwater ich is a disease caused by tiny parasites of either Cryptocaryon or Oodinium. These parasites imbed themselves in the fish's skin and gills, causing great irritation.
White spot or Ich is a common problem in new setups or from those who have recently added fish.
and I had a small problem of ich with 3 or 4 of the fish after not having seen the disease in many years. I know it is ideal to take all the fish out and treat them in a separate hospital tank, but this was just not practical in my case.
Ich Disease
Visible Symptoms: Small white cysts on fish's body, sometimes collecting to form white patches. Fish that are heavily infect can look like they were sprinkled with sugar or salt granules.
Ich
The first angel fish disease we're going to explore is called ich and it is icky. This disease is more commonly known as white spot disease because it makes the fish look like it has white spots all over it.
ich - A very common parasitic disease characterized by white salt-like specks all over the fish.
Ich (Ichthyophtirius)- aka: White Spot Disease
Symptoms: Appears as if salt granules are on the fish’s body with heavier concentration on and around the fins. The spots are white and are raised up off the body/fins of the fish.
Super Ich Cure
Active Ingredients: benzaldehyde green, nitrofurazone
For the treatment of ICH (ichthyophhirius) a highly contagious disease sometimes called white spot disease
General Cure ...
Marine Ich, Velvet or Coral Fish Disease - Learn to Diagnosis and Treat Ood...
Black Spot or Tang Disease - Black Ich Diagnosis and Treatment
Saltwater Ich / White Spot Disease - Learn to Diagnose and Treat Cryptocary...
White Spot (Ich)-
Scientific Name: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (causative agent)
Distribution : Worldwide, in fresh and brackish water ...
White Spot (Ich)
Tiny white spots on the skin and fins, extra skin mucus.
Fish may appear irritated and flick against objects;they may look uncomfortable; loss of appetite ...
Disease: Ich or White Spot (Ichthyophthiriasis)
Symptoms: Small white spots that resemble salt or sand. Usually appears on fins first.
What it is: Spots are growing parasites that quickly spread to other fish in the tank.
Ick: See Ich.
Immature: The larva or pupa of an insect.
Imprinting: The process through which young fry "memorize" details about their home streams.
Accordingly, stressed puffers will often contract all sorts of ailments (especially ich). The bottom line is, we keep these fish (and most others) because they relax and captivate us.
Clown Loaches are a little more prone to Ich than most fish. Special care should be taken when the Loaches have Ich, or Whitespot. There is a lot of debate about which chemicals can be used safely with Clown Loaches.
Malachite green is a old remedy, it is a dye that has been used effectively for generations against "ICH". It dyes the water and is effective against parasites in the free swimming form. As with most medicines, it should be used only as directed.
"Treating Saltwater Ich without Medication" Tropical Fish Hobbyist, January 2001c.
Buchmann, K. Jensen, P. B. & Kruse, K. D.
Back then, bala sharks were not commercially bred and they were rare, expensive, large, wild caught and very susceptible to ich infestations. I had recently been put in charge of buying the fish for the store that I worked in.
It gets these little white dots (no, it's not ich, I've kept fish for 30 years and know what ich looks like), they stick out from the body and get longer like white spikes or threads - not very long, but definitely growing away from the body.
UV STERILIZERS Ultraviolet light sterilizers are used in series with filters to kill water borne parasites (such as ich) and/or bacteria. Although not strictly a filter, it does ultimately remove harmful organisms.
Q: How do I treat a fish with ich in a reef tank?
A: From Craig Bingman:
I don't know of any medication for the treatment of marine ich that is safe to use in a reef tank.
Ich medications are not intended to treat other ailments, and antibiotics for bacterial infection are not intended to treat ich.
Ich is the most common ailment, and often they are seen in the pet store covered in ich spots (makes my blood boil). It is almost guaranteed that after you get them home they will come down with it.
Im August 1997 unternahmen meine Frau und ich eine Reise auf die Thailändische Insel "Ko Samui", die sich ca. 560 km südlich von Bangkok im Golf von Thailand befindet.
Initial problems are primarily with marine ich, to which most surgeons and tangs are very susceptible.
To complicate the situation further, they are almost always loaded with ich at the time of purchase, and finding individuals for sale that are ich-free is nearly impossible.
Parasitic infections are those like Ich or Velvet (Cryptocaryon and Oodinium in saltwater). They spread rapidly to almost any fish in the infected tank.
R :Most Hatchetfish are wild-caught and thus susceptible to disease, especially "Ich"when first introduced to the aquarium. It is wise to quarantine fish before adding them to the main tank.
The Pim Pictus is a scaleless catfish and so seems to be more susceptible to White Spot (Ich) than many other catfish. Make sure when you are purchasing this fish that it and its tankmates are entirely free of White Spot and that they are well fed.
Specks, dots or lumps also signal diseases like ICH etc.
Swollen abdomen, bulging scales, bulging eyes can indicate fluid accumulation due to oedema (Dropsy).
More details about diseases and there treatment can be enquired at the Aquarium_club.
External Parasite (ICK aka ICH, possibly others))
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a parasitic protozoan.
Fish are thin and act listless ...
Additional: Black mollies are a very good disease indicator species, Ich and oodinium are immediately visible. Black mollies are furthermore very decent algae eaters.
In the tail section some of the melano cells may develop cancerous growths.
Amyloodinium, Oodinium, Marine Velvet, Saltwater Ich
Cryptocaryon irritans
Cryptocaryon, White spot disease, Saltwater Ich ...
Common Diseases: Ich
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Help feed dogs in shelters ...
Additional:The fish are very susceptible to disease after transport. Healthy fish are rarely seen in shops, often they are infected with Ich or fungus.
Oskam reports that feeding Enchytrae will induce eggs in the female.
Careful observance of the Blue Tang is essential; as it is more susceptible to lateral line disease, fin erosion, ich and other skin parasites than many other fish.
Two common maladies afflicting Siamese fighting fish are fin rot and ich.
[edit] Ideal tank conditions ...
You should look closely for signs of aggression and note that they are especially prone to "Ich". Larger specimens may scratch themselves on coral, so keep the tank spacious and the decoration sparse.
if left untreated it is usually fatal, infected fish will either die for no reason or if seen early they will flick against rocks and also cough to flush water over their gills.
Treatment includes freshwater dips( very stressful and can cause ich) or ...
Personally I would recommend QuICK Cure by Aquarium Products (this is probably about the only product endorsement you will see here unless I decide to start doing product reviews). I have had the best luck with this. It can usually treat ich in just ...
See also: Fish, Water, Aquarium, Species, Plants
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