| Ich is a very common ailment found among tropical | | | | F every hour until you've reached 86 deg. F or if your |
| fish. It is not a disease, but rather a parasite that | | | | fish can tolerate higher, go to 89.5 deg. F for 3 or 4 |
| attaches its self to the body of a fish and eats the | | | | days to kill the ich. If you raise the temperature to |
| fluid and tissue. In the ocean where the density of | | | | 89.5 deg. F lower it to 86 deg. F for the next 6 or 7 |
| fish is low, these parasites aren't a problem because | | | | days. |
| they can't find a host very easily. In a home aquarium | | | | If you increase the temperature keep in mind that |
| where the density of fish is much higher one parasite | | | | warm water increases metabolism creating a need |
| can destroy an entire tank. | | | | for more oxygen, but warm water has lower levels |
| Symptoms - The most common symptom is small | | | | of oxygen. Add oxygen to your fish tank by lowering |
| white spots on the fish, other signs include slimy skin, | | | | the water level, you may need to add an airstone as |
| frequent rubbing against other objects, slow and | | | | well. |
| heavy breathing and loss of appetite. | | | | Ich can also be treated with medications found at |
| Treatment - Ich parasites have three different | | | | your local pet store. These medications are generally |
| stages in their life cycle, the trophozoite, trophant, | | | | effective, but some of them are only for freshwater |
| and tomite. In only the tomite stage are they | | | | aquariums or may not be safe for your kind of fish. |
| vulnerable to treatment. These parasites also react | | | | Read the instructions carefully before purchasing or |
| to different water temperatures. At 85 degrees F | | | | using any ich medication. |
| they will not attach onto a fish, will not reproduce at | | | | Preventing ich is a simple as quarantining new fish for |
| 86 deg. F and die at 89.5 deg. F. Most fish cannot | | | | at least two weeks before adding them to the main |
| tolerate 89.5 deg. F temperatures but raising the | | | | aquarium. Most cases of ich are caused by a new fish |
| temperature to 86 degrees for 10 days will most | | | | being infected with the parasite and spreading it to |
| likely cure the problem since that is the life cycle of | | | | the rest of the fish. |
| the parasite. Slowly raise the temperature 2 degrees | | | | |