Ick is gone - but still have damsel in tank

[supernareg]

So i had 5 fish.. i got 2 new fish from petco and like a dummy i threw them into my display. My beautiful tangs got ick, everything got it. Took them out one by one and donated them. I still have a beautiful vibrant blue damsel with an orange tail. It seems like he does not have ick.

I know that ick needs a host or else it dies in 2-3 weeks. My original plan was to run my tank without fish for 1 month then put fish in again, giving time for ick to die.


QUESTION: Can the damsel carry ick on it while healthy? Should i get rid of the damsel and go completely fish free?

Ick doesnt go on shrimp and starfish as far as I know (i have a cleaner and CBS, + starfish).


thanks

 

[Deinonych]

The only way to rid your tank of disease is to remove all fish.

 

[avandss]

yes you need to get rid of the damsel, and 1 month will not be enough, you need a minimum of 72 days without fish

everything else including your star&shrimps are fine

 

[snorvich]

yes you need to get rid of the damsel, and 1 month will not be enough, you need a minimum of 72 days without fish

everything else including your star&shrimps are fine

This.

 

[jay13]

went 103 days fishless in my 180. just to be sure...

 

[Spar]

went 103 days fishless in my 180. just to be sure...

never a bad idea. longer you go the better.

the 72 days comes from the maximum time a cyst lasted before hatching in a controlled environment during research. given there are billions on billions of these parasites going through their life cycle around the world, both in nature and in enclosures, surely some last more than 72 days occasionally.

but, since the vast majority last 5 to 8 days, I personally just go with the 72 unless I am in no hurry at all...