Ich POLL!

[Sk8r]

THe theory runs---and this is not proven---even if you have had ich in the past, if it has gone away and has not been back for months, ---AND you quarantine any new arrivals---a year's lapse between fish means it is less and less likely your quarantined fish will catch it.

The theory runs that the parasite loses vigor over time and isolation, with tank occupants getting more and more immune, over 11 months--and if you then qt your new arrivals, you are much, much safer. Burgess, the scientist who did the study, does not have universal acceptance, or anything like it---but---it's something to afford some hope for those who have huge tanks, minimal opportunity to qt the whole herd, and the chance to start anew with proper procedure.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I haven't had a fish with ick for over a year, does this mean they won't get it unless something else is introduced?

I think this is 99.9% true 99.9% of the time; and 99.9% of the exceptions have an explanation that we've probably missed. IMO, a big part of this whole "mystery" is that we are dealing with microscopic creatures, often mis-identified and basically ignored by science. There is much we just a lot we don't know for certain and there is very little money available to study things that really only effect SW hobbyists. I think this is changing some as aquaculture, for human food purposes, evolves.

 

[JTL]

I am in the camp that does not believe all tanks have ich. If you do have it I believe it can be lurking and at some point reappear. I have quarantined my fish and never had a problem and from time to time they have been stressed. I also think the theory of the parasite losing the ability to reproduce after some period of time holds some merit.

 

[syrinx]

THe theory runs---and this is not proven---even if you have had ich in the past, if it has gone away and has not been back for months, ---AND you quarantine any new arrivals---a year's lapse between fish means it is less and less likely your quarantined fish will catch it.

The theory runs that the parasite loses vigor over time and isolation, with tank occupants getting more and more immune, over 11 months--and if you then qt your new arrivals, you are much, much safer. Burgess, the scientist who did the study, does not have universal acceptance, or anything like it---but---it's something to afford some hope for those who have huge tanks, minimal opportunity to qt the whole herd, and the chance to start anew with proper procedure.

This was my rsponse on the eel thread to this theory-

I hold the belief- through no valid science- only experience- that ich does exactly that- to a point. Namely that after a period of time with healthy fish not allowing more than a occasion gill latch, the ich does not reproduce exponetially, rather the opposite. That there is a very low level of ich surviving to keep the genetics there for when there is the oportunity for a "bloom". This is not dissimilar to other animals that live in balance by breeding to the conditions available for survival. It explains why ich pops up in tanks that haven`t had fish added or any outbreaks in 5 yrs plus.

 

[THEDLO]

This was my rsponse on the eel thread to this theory-

I hold the belief- through no valid science- only experience- that ich does exactly that- to a point. Namely that after a period of time with healthy fish not allowing more than a occasion gill latch, the ich does not reproduce exponetially, rather the opposite. That there is a very low level of ich surviving to keep the genetics there for when there is the oportunity for a "bloom". This is not dissimilar to other animals that live in balance by breeding to the conditions available for survival. It explains why ich pops up in tanks that haven`t had fish added or any outbreaks in 5 yrs plus.

sound theory. i like it.

 

[RBU1]

RBU that's a nice lookin' female Scribbled. I once had one.

Not sure if its a male or female. The person I got it from said something about seeing some speckles on the tail fin. Time will tell...

 

[Gogandantess]

Not sure if its a male or female. The person I got it from said something about seeing some speckles on the tail fin. Time will tell...

It's a female. the lines in the center of the body are more vertical while the lines in the males run horizontally. Right Angel experts?

 

[RBU1]

THe theory runs---and this is not proven---even if you have had ich in the past, if it has gone away and has not been back for months, ---AND you quarantine any new arrivals---a year's lapse between fish means it is less and less likely your quarantined fish will catch it.

The theory runs that the parasite loses vigor over time and isolation, with tank occupants getting more and more immune, over 11 months--and if you then qt your new arrivals, you are much, much safer. Burgess, the scientist who did the study, does not have universal acceptance, or anything like it---but---it's something to afford some hope for those who have huge tanks, minimal opportunity to qt the whole herd, and the chance to start anew with proper procedure.

Well this morning when the lights came on.....The Achilles was covered more then every and the scribbled had it also. Must have had a huge outbreak. Time will tell if they can fight it off and pull thru. Not adding another fish for a long time. If they don't make it and all the fish start to die off I will pack it in....

 

[syrinx]

you can see it on the fotos of the scribbled- at least it looks like it to me.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Well this morning when the lights came on.....The Achilles was covered more then every and the scribbled had it also. Must have had a huge outbreak. Time will tell if they can fight it off and pull thru. Not adding another fish for a long time. If they don't make it and all the fish start to die off I will pack it in....

Beautiful tank & livestock. I REALLY hope I'm wrong on this one.

 

[djze]

Well this morning when the lights came on.....The Achilles was covered more then every and the scribbled had it also. Must have had a huge outbreak. Time will tell if they can fight it off and pull thru. Not adding another fish for a long time. If they don't make it and all the fish start to die off I will pack it in....
the achilles is one of the toughest fish to keep i have had 4 in the past no matter what i did they would get ich the only success was with copper but in your case that's not an option the only thing i can recommend that has worked and is still working for me is heavy garlic on the food with selcon & vitamin c also plenty of water changes .also the problem with the achilles if he doesn't fight the ich off he will be miserable and therefore keep the other fish stressed & that will only keep the ich population up if you can remove just him i would good luck with your battle

 

[RBU1]

It's a female. the lines in the center of the body are more vertical while the lines in the males run horizontally. Right Angel experts?

The person I got it from is an angel expert, and he told me the specs on the tail fin are an indication it could be a male. But it will take some time for the colors to develope to determine for sure.

 

[badwolf]

Could have done with a maybe as there really is no way of knowing unless there is a outbreak. However I do not believe all tanks have it any more than I believe all people have a cold virus. But it is possible it is there and the fish are fighting it off well enough we never see it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Could have done with a maybe as there really is no way of knowing unless there is a outbreak. However I do not believe all tanks have it any more than I believe all people have a cold virus. But it is possible it is there and the fish are fighting it off well enough we never see it.

Funny, Although I do agree with you on the ich; most (if not all) people probably do have a cold virus and have just developed immunity to most strains. However, a virus is far from a parasite and the two just can't be compared.

 

[syrinx]

People do develop resistance to parasites though, I would think fish would as well.

 

[Lukel]

I Had to vote yes, but i havn't seen a ich breakout in atleast 3 months, and i replaced my sand bed a month and a half ago.....

 

[jk1138]

I bought some False Percs last week and have had them in my QT tank. I gave them a close look over tonight and they both have ich, something I had not seen on them when I got them. I will be moving them into my hospital tank later for some hypo salinity. I wish I didi not need to do this, but better in my QT tank than my DT.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I bought some False Percs last week and have had them in my QT tank. I gave them a close look over tonight and they both have ich, something I had not seen on them when I got them. I will be moving them into my hospital tank later for some hypo salinity. I wish I didi not need to do this, but better in my QT tank than my DT.

Be sure this is ich and not brooklynella (clownfish disease). There has been so much ich discussion that I think brooklynella and velvet are often missed. Brook is deadly and requires different treatment than ich; its also very common with clownfish. Thus, the name "clownfish disease". (DUH, said to myself)

 

[yachtdr22]

My tank better be ich free... just completed 12 weeks of fallow and all swimmers have been through cupramine...

 

[reeferstace]

Uh, this thread is 3.5 years old.