Fishes carriers of ich without external symptoms of white spots

[beuchat]

Hi

¿Is possible that some fishes may carry ich without external manifestation?

The question is because I have a paracanthurus hepatus tang who in quarantine was scratching with the pvc pipes but without white spots in his skin. I medicated with cloroquine phosphate and he stops scratching

I put in the DT the tang and added an anthias group of 1 male and 4 females (without quarantine). The anthias were not showing any scratching behavior or white points at any time

The hepatus now started to scratch again the rocks again and I think in two possibilities:

a) The anthias were carrying ich and they transferred to the aquarium and the hepatus. In this case I am not sure if is worth applying medication in quarantine to new fishes, because the will be exposed later to the parasite in DT
b) The hepatus was carrying a different parasite (not ich) and the cloroquine was not able to eliminate. Then the DT is ich free and I should remove the tang and treat for other parasites like flukes or others

¿Any ideas or experiences?

Thanks

 

[snorvich]

Hi

¿Is possible that some fishes may carry ich without external manifestation?

Yes, it is common. In their gills. Which is why QT using TTM is advocated.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

+1 with snorvich.

 

[snorvich]

Also, CP will not always be effective against ich despite being the medication of choice for velvet.

 

[ThRoewer]

Fish that are partially immune to ich can have an occult, low level infection, usually in their gills.

The fish scratches because the parasites causes an inflammation on its gills which feels itchy. CP has anti inflammatory properties, so it will relieve the inflammation and the itching and the fish stops scratching. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the ich is gone.

Since we do not know how CP works precisely against ich (in those cases where it works against ich), it is a bit of a shaky therapy and other measures with well understood impact on the various ich stages should be preferred. TTM is the best preventative measure if executed correctly.

 

[travis9791]

+1 many say most fish carry the parasite.

 

[beuchat]

Ok, thanks for the answers

 

[Deinonych]

+1 many say most fish carry the parasite.

Yes, it's best to assume that any new acquisition carries it and plan your quarantine accordingly.