Can Ich die with fish present?

[PirateLove]

Can ich just die? I have a large tank with one blue regal/hippo tang whatever you want to call it, and a skunk cleaner shrimp. It has been two months since I got the tang with ich. Ever since he has been SUPER healthy and happy. He has grown 3x's the size but I want to introduce my favorite fish into the tank, a little clown, and I would be devastated if he died..

Is the ICH still in the tank just not shown up for two months?

 

[Nina51]

if there is a fish host, ich will remain in your tank. you need to remove the tang to a qt/ht, treat it/ttm, leave your tank fallow for 72 days to ensure the ich dies off, then put your fish back in.

some believe even 72 days may not be long enough being that there apparently are some strains of ich that can live longer w/o a host.

if you go ahead and add your little clown, you're playing with fire.

 

[gone fishin]

What Nina said.

 

[Capt.Nemo]

as long as there is a host. the disease continues. you just may not be seeing it because of the stage of the life cycle the disease is in.
I have got 3 weeks left before I can return fish due to Brook, which has the same type of life cycle. disease and parasites evolve between sand and host throughout its life cycle. just because you cant see it doesn't mean you are cured.
just because I can peel stickers off Rubiks Cube and put colors on same side, doesn't mean I can solve the Rubiks Cube, I have just figured a way around it.

just like I am learning a big lesson here, learn the lesson now my friend. I have a new pair of Tomato Clowns I have in QT tank right now. when my display is ready, they will be ready. I don't want to lose them either

good luck

 

[Laredotx1987]

true the ich will still remain in the tank. its good to have a uv sterilizer to kill any disease. will anything that passes thru the uv light.

 

[Sk8r]

If ich does not 'make it' with a host, it will die---read the lifecycle info---but since it can hide in gills, it is not always possible to tell. If you have been 72 days with no symptoms, it is possible it is defunct. If you have been 144 days with no new fish and no symptoms, it becomes more likely it is defunct. If a year, probably it really is defunct. If you put in a new fish and it comes down with it---either it wasn't defunct, or the new fish brought it in.

 

[snorvich]

true the ich will still remain in the tank. its good to have a uv sterilizer to kill any disease. will anything that passes thru the uv light.

Sorry, but that does not work; not all will pass through even if matched properly.

 

[Laredotx1987]

that's why i said that the uv sterilizer is good but for only the things that flow thru the uv light.