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