| Ich, also called white spot disease, is one of the | | | | 30 ppm in saltwater can weaken the immune |
| most common protozoan infections affecting | | | | system in fish. Calcium is also often forgotten as |
| aquarium and pond fishes. The scientific name for | | | | an essential to fish health (including soft water fish |
| freshwater ich is "Ichthyophthirius multifilis. The | | | | such as Discus). Without calcium fish cannot carry |
| marine protozoan causing ich is Cryptocaryon | | | | out many osmotic functions and are more |
| irritans. Both organisms cause whitish spots, called | | | | susceptible to disease, including ich infestations. For |
| "cysts", to appear on the bodies and fins of the | | | | more information about Calcium and KH, please |
| infested fishes. | | | | see this article: CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, & KH |
| DIAGNOSIS: | | | | IN AQUARIUMS |
| The usual way of diagnosing ich is by close | | | | A healthy, cycled aquarium with a steady |
| observation of the infected fishes. The presence | | | | temperature and a KH above 80 ppm is less likely |
| of small, (.5 to 1.0 mm) white dots (kind of like | | | | to develop ich, or when it does, a healthy |
| salt) scattered about on the fishes' skin. This is | | | | aquarium will have a less serious and more easily |
| most easily observed around the tail or fins | | | | treatable infestation. |
| (especially if the fins normally clear). You can | | | | TREATMENT: |
| check this out by removing one of the spots and | | | | There are many ways to treat ich infestations in |
| observing it under a microscope. Ich has a small | | | | freshwater, less in saltwater, but not all |
| micronucleus and a prominent crescent-shaped | | | | treatments are equal or can be used for all types |
| macronucleus. | | | | of fish or all aquatic environments. I will only |
| LIFE CYCLE: | | | | discuss the options I prefer to use in my |
| Ich is most often introduced into the aquarium or | | | | maintenance business or in my personal |
| pond by adding new fishes or aquatic plants. | | | | aquariums. |
| Tomites which have only recently attached | | | | For freshwater a Malachite Green/ Formalin |
| themselves to the host will not be readily visible. It | | | | combination has generally been the most |
| is good aquarium and pond keeping practice to | | | | effective for moderate to severe infestations. |
| isolate any new fishes for at least four days | | | | "Quick Cure" is good product with this combination |
| under close observation. For tropical fishes, | | | | of medications. Malachite Green by itself as in |
| maintain a temperature of around 75° F | | | | "Nox Ich" is also effective in moderate |
| (24° C). Check carefully for the presence of | | | | infestations. Other treatments of note are copper |
| any tell-tale white spots appearing on the skin of | | | | sulfate and Quinine Sulfate or Hydrochloride. For |
| the fishes and treat them accordingly. If no white | | | | scale-less or delicate fish use Malachite Green at |
| spots are observed on tropical fishes within four | | | | half dose. The safest treatment for scale-less fish |
| days at this temperature, they can be moved | | | | is Quinine Hydrochloride, but this is less effective |
| from isolation. Remember, fishes maintained at | | | | than other treatments, although it can be |
| cooler water temperatures (such as pond fishes) | | | | combined with half strength Malachite Green for |
| will require longer isolation times. | | | | more effectiveness. |
| The visible stages of Ich are carried out within the | | | | For mild to moderate infestations (even some |
| host fishes' skin. The first stages are called | | | | severe) I also use "Medicated Wonder Shells" as |
| trophozoites and are highly resistant to drug | | | | these products have Malachite Green (lower levels |
| therapy. Trophozoites mature into trophonts and | | | | safe for most delicate fish), acriflavin, and small |
| leave the host, falling to the bottom of the | | | | amounts of methylene blue (not enough to affect |
| aquarium or pond. These mature trophonts | | | | bio filtration) and copper. What is best about |
| release from 200 to 1,000 tomtits. These tomites | | | | these "Medicated Wonder Shells" is that they also |
| move about looking for a host, which they must | | | | add electrolytes, calcium and maintain a proper |
| find within 2 to 3 days at 75° F (24° C) | | | | KH, which is very important for treatment with |
| or they will die. Cooler temperatures will lengthen | | | | Malachite Green as this medication is more toxic |
| this time. It is this free swimming stage that is | | | | at lower pH and KH. |
| most vulnerable to treatment. It is important to | | | | One more treatment option is a hospital tank with |
| note that these intermediate stages may also | | | | a Sponge Filter and no gravel. Methylene Blue |
| attach themselves to plants and be accidentally | | | | works well here, but so do ALL of the above |
| introduced into an aquarium or pond along with | | | | treatments as well. |
| the new plants. Once the tomite attaches to the | | | | For saltwater Cryptocaryon I do not recommend |
| host, it matures and the cycle begins anew. The | | | | Formalin. Malachite Green is relatively safe for |
| parasite forms a nodule under the skin or gill | | | | saltwater fish and some invertebrates such as |
| epithelium of the fish host. It constantly turns and | | | | crabs and even some anemones, but definitely |
| moves under the skin, feeding on destroyed cells | | | | NOT for cephalopods. Malachite Green is not as |
| and body fluids. It continues to feed on the cells | | | | effective a treatment as it is in freshwater |
| until it matures, causing damage to the skin tissue. | | | | applications for ich infestations. Quinine Sulfate or |
| This leads to osmotic stress, resulting in | | | | Hydrochloride is also relatively safe for most fish, |
| secondary bacterial or fungal infections. | | | | but not invertebrates. Metronidazole can also be |
| PREVENTION: | | | | used for marine ich infestations and is safe for |
| As in many parasite-caused diseases the fish | | | | many invertebrates (NOT ALL! So use with |
| must be sufficiently stressed and susceptible to | | | | caution), but again is relatively ineffective for ich |
| the parasite. Also, the parasites must be present | | | | (Cryptocaryon) treatment. Copper sulfate is still |
| in the aquatic environment. It is not uncommon | | | | the most effective way to treat in Cryptocaryon |
| for an aquarium population to have a low-level of | | | | saltwater, but copper (especially chelated) can be |
| ich infestation present but not be showing any | | | | hard to remove from your system once used |
| signs of the disease. Then, once a new fish is | | | | and is deadly to invertebrates. There is a marine |
| placed into the system it develops the disease. | | | | version of the "Medicated Wonder Shells" which |
| Fish can sometimes carry the parasite and not | | | | only contains Malachite Green, this product is mildly |
| actually be diseased. These carriers can shed the | | | | to moderately effective for marine ich |
| parasite into a new aquarium into which it is | | | | (Cryptocaryon). For saltwater fish, prevention is |
| placed. If the fish in the new aquarium have never | | | | still the best cure, such as UV Sterilization. Also a |
| been exposed to the parasite, and they become | | | | quarantine tank for new fish and a hospital tank |
| stressed, they can develop the disease. | | | | for sick fish are also beneficial. If a hospital tank is |
| The health aquatic environment can play a major | | | | available (bare tank with a sponge filter), a |
| role in susceptibility to the ich parasites. High | | | | treatment with Methylene Blue and or copper is |
| ammonia and nitrites severely stress a fish. Also | | | | advisable. |
| long term nitrates above 50 ppm in freshwater or | | | | |