Edit -> I Don't Think It's Ich Now, What's It Got?

[Jozlyn]

OMG I think I have Ich in my tank!

How quickly will it spread to my other fish? I think I know who the culprit is, but that's dependent on how quickly it spreads to other fish.

 

[The-Wolf]

if one fish has it all the others have it.
you have to treat the entire tanks stock.

 

[Jozlyn]

Thanks Wolf, but I DO know that already.

What I want to know is how fast it spreads? How quickly do the symptoms present. Because with that information I'll know for sure where the infection came from, therefore I will be able to abuse the correct LFS, and demand that THEY pay for the medication!

And how do you pronounce it, is it Ich as in itchy or Ich as in Ick?

 

[andywg]

Its rate of spread is determined by a huge number of factors. It is pretty much impossible to categorically say, after the event, which fish brought it into the tank.

It is possible that an existing fish had a low level infection where only a few pathogens at a time infected it on internal areas (such as gills) and only recently has the full outbreak taken place. I don't fancy your chances of getting the lfs to pay for treatment unless all your fish are from the same place.

 

[bobbyami]

Hi

i actually read that it is to do with the water temperature and they length of time they are introduced into the tank. i find it only take a few days to spread, i am in the process of treating it myself as we have some new fish.
it is a right royal pain! and pretty worrying!

 

[andywg]

From here

Particularly resistant fishes can remain asymptomatic through several cycles of infestation and can act as "carriers" of Ich. What happens is, the free-swimming tomites attach most easily to the gills. The rest of the fishes' skin is protected by a sturdier mucus coating that's constantly renewed, sloughing off all kinds of minute organisms that might settle out. Trophonts that are newly-attached to the epidermis are invisibly small. So a "carrier" fish is simply one that is invisibly carrying Ich, perhaps on its gills

That shows that while ich can, at times, spread extremely quickly, it can also be somewhat "covert" in its infiltration of the aquarium. The ability of the pathogen to spread and be shown on other fishes is more than just the length of the life cycle of ich.

 

[girl4God81]

I just got done treating it, and it spread within a day (or maybe even less). Within 2 days half my tank had it already.

 

[Jozlyn]

Hmmm I got 3 new fish on Saturday morning, then noticed that one of them was sort of flicking itself against rocks on Tuesday night, so I sat and watched the tank for a while and really studied the fish and what they were doing and 1 of the guppies started flicking against rocks, pots, the heater. I can't see any signs in any of the other fish yet. I've bought all my fish except 2 from the same shop, I've had those 2 for months and haven't had any problems and absolutely nothing about my tank has changed except for the three new commers on Saturday. So I'm fairly confident where the disease has come from.

Two further questions tho,

1. How is the word pronounced?

2. I wont be able to get any medications for my fish until Saturday (unless I can talk my hubby into doing the 45km drive) is this going to cause a big problem for my poor little sick fishies?

 

[andywg]

I can't see any signs in any of the other fish yet. I've bought all my fish except 2 from the same shop, I've had those 2 for months and haven't had any problems and absolutely nothing about my tank has changed except for the three new commers on Saturday. So I'm fairly confident where the disease has come from.

However, the pathogen can be present for some time without you actually noticing it, such as on the fishes' gills. While you may be fairly confident, if I were the lfs I would not be happy at someone just coming in claiming my fish gave his tank whitespot when there are other possibilities - and certainly wouldn't medicate for free. However, your lfs may do it as a goodwill gesture, and to keep you buying there.

Two further questions tho,

1. How is the word pronounced?

2. I wont be able to get any medications for my fish until Saturday (unless I can talk my hubby into doing the 45km drive) is this going to cause a big problem for my poor little sick fishies?

1. It doesn't really matter. If it really worries you, call it whitespot. same thing.

2. It won't be the end of the world. It just means you will be fighting a larger population of pathogens, so buy a bit more meds than you thought you might need.

 

[Jozlyn]

ok thanks Andywg, I appreciate your honest response

 

[girl4God81]

I think it's prnounced IcK, with the "k" sound being prominent, but maybe that's just what I always call it. I agree with what Andy said! Let us know what happens..and I totally understand the husband thing...hehe

 

[Jozlyn]

Odd, the guppy's stopped flicking, maybe I didn't see what I thought I did. But the smallest of the new fish is constantly rubbing itself against anything solid, poor little mite

I must've sat infront of the tank for about 3 hours last night, studying the fish and the only fish that was itchy was the new little one.

Only two more days till I can get the med's. I nearly bought some a couple of weeks ago, wish I had now!

 

[Jozlyn]

Another evening tank watching, still only the little Ram scratching/flicking/rubbing. No white spots on it either. None of the other fish appear to be showing any symptoms yet, it's now been 5 days, so I'm guessing if it was Ich, there should be some other fisher showing symptoms by now, maybe it's not Ich afterall, maybe it has something else like velvet or flukes, would Melafix be of any use? I have no idea whats wrong with it now. I don't have another tank to put it in either and I don't know what to do to help it, it's scratching alot, poor little mite.

Any help would be appreciated

1. Water parameters. Ammonia - 0, Nitrate - ?, Nitrite - 0, PH 7, Temp'- Approx' 26C, Gh & Kh- 4 & 6
2. A full description of the fishes symptoms - as above
3. How often you do water changes and how much - weekly - 30 - 40%
4. Any chemicals and treatments you add to the water - No
5. What tank mates are in the tank - 5 Guppies, 8 Neon Tetra, 1 Molly, 1 Dwarf Neon Gourami, 1 Bristlenose Catfish, 1 Golden Apple Snail and 1 other unknown brown snail that came hidden in a plant!
6. Tank size - Approx 90lt
7. Finally Have you recently added any new fish - Yep, 3 German Blue Rams, one of which is the sick one.

 

[WILDER]

Flicking can be a sign of many things.
New fish getting used to the water.
bad water stats.
Temp to high or low.
Flukes which you will not see with the naked eye.

 

[Jozlyn]

So what do I do? Just keep an eye on it and see what happens?

I'm positive there's nothing wrong with the water, temp', etc. I test twice a week on Wednesday (because it's the middle of the week and few days after the water change) and on Sunday before I do my weekly water change, maintenance etc.

I'm sure the food is ok, it's eating it just fine, they all get tropical flakes and defrosted bloodworms, an algae wafer for the Bristlenose Catfish and cucumber or zucchini twice a week. Living where I do I don't have a big choice in fish foods!

Will adding some Melafix be of any use?