Ich or ick, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, is a single-celled parasite and is the most common freshwater fish disease that is found in freshwater aquariums. It is easily identified by the white spots that appear on the body and fins of your fish. The most common way your fish become sick by ick is when introducing new fish into your tank.
Treating Ich
There are many commercial products available that treat ich (white spot disease) on the market. Be sure to read the warnings on the labels. Some are not safe for certain types of fish, particularly scaleless fish. The most common active ingredients are copper, Potassium Permanganate, formaldehyde, and Methylene Blue. I've had the most luck with potassium permanganate and methylene blue-based products. Be aware, however that methylene blue can stain things blue. I used it in a tank with an undergravel filter and it turned the tubes slightly blue (permanently). Again, read the directions carefully.
Temperature
Raising temperature speeds up Ich life cycle. Most products only kill Ich that is in the free-swimming stage. Ich has a life cycle of about 4 days, but you can cut that in about half by raising the temperature around 81-82 degrees. If you try this, I recommend adding an extra aerator. As the temperature of water rises, its ability to hold oxygen decreases. So an extra aerator will help combat this. Leave the temperature high for about 5 days while treating the ich with a commercial product.
Preventing Ich
There are several things you can do to help prevent white spot disease from taking over your tank.
Be skeptical when purchasing new fish. Look around at all the tanks. If there are many diseased or dead fish in the tanks you should probably not trust any of their fish and find a new store.
Quarantine new fish before adding them to your main aquarium. Do this for two weeks.
Avoid live feeder fish. If you have a fish that needs feeder fish, consider setting up your own tank to breed guppies or another easily bred livebearer. This will allow you to know the quality of the fish you are introducing to your tank. Feeder fish are one of the most common ways ich is introduced into aquariums.
Keep up on tank maintenance. Don't put off water changes or changing your filter medium too long. Maintain your water quality and you will have fewer problems.
Make sure the conditions of your aquarium meet the conditions required by the fish you keep in it. Stressed fish are more susceptible to disease. Make sure not to overcrowd your fish, provide them with adequate hiding spots, feed them the correct amount of food, and provide them with the correct water conditions.
Quarantine plants for a week if they come from a tank that had fish in it.
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