Can someone explain Ich, Introduction...

[the other tang]

Can Someone explain to me how Ich is introduced into a system, if it is always there. Can you quarantine all livestock before you put into display and 100% rid this from the system? Can a healthy/unstressed fish get ich? If this is present how do you keep it in check without chemicals, mandrins, cleaner shrimp? I have read some threads here but mot deal with getting rid of it, not the whole scope of where it comes from to prevention, and so on.

 

[ronjeremy]

ich is introduced by not putting everything wet through a qt process!! it is a parasite...if you don't introduce it into your system, it will not be in there!!!! if you qt EVERYTHING WET, and watch very closely for 4-6 weeks and don't see any sign of it, it is pretty safe to say that it is not present...some people like to treat for it anyway, just to be sure..a stressed fish cannot get ich if it is not present in your tank...don't ever believe anything that you hear about ich being a stress related disease !!!!! it is a parasite...if the parasite is present, it can manifest itself on a stressed fish faster than a healthy fish..this doesn't mean that a healthy fish cannot get the parasite..you cannot really control it without treating with hypo or copper, but there are a few things that you can do to try to boost a fish's immune system...you can add vitamins and garlic to its food, run a u.V sterilizer, and keep the water quality as high as possible..this will by no mkeans keep the fish from getting the parasite, but some people like to keep the immune system as high as possible, "in hopes" of beating the parasite

 

[the other tang]

is it possible for cleaners or mandarins to wipe out the parasites or will the simply manage them at best?

 

[D659600]

QT everything you get-fish and corals. Ich can hitch a ride on anything. Soak your food in garlic instead of using chemicals to keep ich at bay. I have 9 tangs and have not had a deathly problem with ich. My hippo got stressed when he was first introduced into the tank only got like 5 little spots. He fought it off within 1 week. Keeping your fish healthy and water outstanding, ich will stay at bay. It may not work for everyone but it works for me. Good luck D

 

[ronjeremy]

i am not going to say that it is impossible, but it will most likely never happen..it could help to an extent, but the parasite will still be present..it is best to get the problem before it ever enters your tank..it sucks to have to wait so long to see your new additions in your display, but a qt tank will save you alot of problems in the long run