Ich (Ichtyopthirius)
Ichtyopthirius/Ick/White Spot is a very common aquarium disease. It is a protozoan parasite that attaches itself onto the fish to feed. They look like the Goldfish has been sprinkled with salt; small, white grains which usually begin on the fins and spread over the whole body quite quickly. The fish will be irritated by the Ich and will flash or scratch itself on the substrate and decor. The fish may also lose its appetite, appear lethargic and clamp its fins. Not all white spots are Ich, so confirm diagnosis before treatment.
Understanding the lifecycle of Ich is the key to curing it.
☆ When the Ich parasite first attaches itself to the Goldfish, it is not visible to the human eye. During the Trophont stage, they begin feeding on the fish and form cysts, from where they feed off the body fluids of the Goldfish. It is these cysts which we see and are what we recognise as Ich.
☆ The Ich then enters the Tomont stage of the life cycle. They break free from the fish upon maturity and fall to the substrate, or aquarium decor and begin reproducing.
☆ The cyst then breaks open and hundreds of parasites are released into the aquarium, this stage is known as the Theront, or free swimming stage. During this time, the parasites begin to look for a new host and is the time when treatment hits hard.
Ich can be fatal if left untreated and isn't always visible to the naked eye, so act quickly when you see it.
Understanding the lifecycle of Ich is the key to curing it.
☆ When the Ich parasite first attaches itself to the Goldfish, it is not visible to the human eye. During the Trophont stage, they begin feeding on the fish and form cysts, from where they feed off the body fluids of the Goldfish. It is these cysts which we see and are what we recognise as Ich.
☆ The Ich then enters the Tomont stage of the life cycle. They break free from the fish upon maturity and fall to the substrate, or aquarium decor and begin reproducing.
☆ The cyst then breaks open and hundreds of parasites are released into the aquarium, this stage is known as the Theront, or free swimming stage. During this time, the parasites begin to look for a new host and is the time when treatment hits hard.
Ich can be fatal if left untreated and isn't always visible to the naked eye, so act quickly when you see it.
Treatment
☆ Once you have diagnosed Ich in your fish, you will need to treat them, using the heat and salt method. This method can be used without the salt, but I have found it more effective with a raised salinity.
☆ The entire tank will need treating. Should you choose to remove an infected fish to quarantine, you will need to treat the entire tank also.
☆ Increase the temperature of the tank to 30c by gradual increase of 2c an hour. This will speed up the lifecycle of the ich and get it to the Theront stage faster, where we can treat it.
☆ Raise the salinity to 0.3% by increase of 0.1% every 12 hours (0.1%=1gram per litre/1teaspoon per USG). The raised salinity will kill the free swimming parasites and prevents any secondary infections occurring on the sites where the Ich have been feeding.
☆ Perform at least 25% daily water changes with thorough substrate vacuums. This will remove the parasites in the Tomont stage.
☆ Replace any salt you remove during water changes to hold a 0.3% salinity throughout the treatment.
☆ Maintain for 14-16days, even if you see no visible parasites, to ensure you are treating and eradicating the Ich completely.
☆ Salt is removed via water changes, so once treatment is complete, perform a nice big water change (no more than 50% if your tank and tap pH differ by more than 0.5).
☆ Gradually recude the temperature to its usual range by gradual decrease of 2c an hour.
☆ The entire tank will need treating. Should you choose to remove an infected fish to quarantine, you will need to treat the entire tank also.
☆ Increase the temperature of the tank to 30c by gradual increase of 2c an hour. This will speed up the lifecycle of the ich and get it to the Theront stage faster, where we can treat it.
☆ Raise the salinity to 0.3% by increase of 0.1% every 12 hours (0.1%=1gram per litre/1teaspoon per USG). The raised salinity will kill the free swimming parasites and prevents any secondary infections occurring on the sites where the Ich have been feeding.
☆ Perform at least 25% daily water changes with thorough substrate vacuums. This will remove the parasites in the Tomont stage.
☆ Replace any salt you remove during water changes to hold a 0.3% salinity throughout the treatment.
☆ Maintain for 14-16days, even if you see no visible parasites, to ensure you are treating and eradicating the Ich completely.
☆ Salt is removed via water changes, so once treatment is complete, perform a nice big water change (no more than 50% if your tank and tap pH differ by more than 0.5).
☆ Gradually recude the temperature to its usual range by gradual decrease of 2c an hour.