i can't find this "ich" anywhere, so i don't even know what to look for. what would it look like so i can identify it if it ever happens to my fish. i know this is probably the most noobish question ever, but... i really need to ask. thank you.

Ich is short for some really long name in latin. Its scientific name isn't necessary though. Ich is one of the most basic problems that people encounter after they set up a new tank. Basically ich is a parasite that attaches itself to the skin of fish. It looks like little grains of salt on the body of the fish, usually appearing first on the fins. Usually the fish gets ich because of stress. Being grabbed with a net, shoved in a tiny bag and then carted off home is quite stressful. This stress reducees the slime coating on a fish and makes it easier for the ich parasite to attach itself. So if it shows up in your tank do not automatically blame the store that you bought your fish out. It can happen to any fish that has been transported. To treat ich is very easy, especially if you catch it early before the fish is covered in it. If you find a fish that has ich raise the temperature in the tank to around 80 degrees F and add an ich medication. You can find literally dozens of different brands at your local pet store.

Ichthyophthirius multifilis

You can't see them unless they form cysts on your fish, so that is what to look for when diagnosing the illness. However, the best way to prevent this so you don't ever have to worry about iding the disorder is to quarantine all new fish and to keep the water quality in good order.

Thanks for the name, I don't know why I can't remember it. Its so easy to say! And I forgot to mention the quaratine issue. Good point, though I would say your average aquarium owner doesn't have the patience to have a separate tank just for new fish (at least I know I don't! )