Immunity/Tolerance question

[Redtack]

I am not certain what exactly immunity or "not prone" refers to when talking about the external parasites, mainly ich, velvet, brook.

What is is the parasite doing when the only available host has a current immunity or is "not prone" ( in a QT for example). Can it still feed and become a visible trophont?

I am trying to decide which quarantine protocol to use. I have a golden oportunity to avoid outbreaks since my tank was completly sterile prior to cycle.

Redtack

 

[Deinonych]

Some fish can develop temporary immunity when they have been exposed to cryptocaryon. Essentially, their immune systems are able to fend off the parasite and prevent it from overwhelming the host. These fish can still be carriers, meaning that a few trophonts attach and are able to continue their life cycle - just not enough to cause the fish distress.

Personally, I now use tank transfer for all new acquisitions once they are acclimated and feeding. TT targets the most predictable phase of the life cycle and is about as close to 100% effective as possible (provided you follow the protocol correctly). I've tried chemical methods, but have found they are either too hard on the fish or leave too much uncertainty for my liking.

 

[Redtack]

Deinonych,

Thank-you for the reply. TT is definitely one of the choices I've been considering. FW dip followed by 2wks of 50% daily water change is the other leading candidate, followed by observation. (logistics are a little simpler for me with this method.)

It's the observation period that is my concern and may be the deciding factor. If the fish is currently carrying but not affected, what are the chances of seeing anything during observation?

 

[snorvich]

Deinonych,

Thank-you for the reply. TT is definitely one of the choices I've been considering.

Terrific

FW dip followed by 2wks of 50% daily water change is the other leading candidate, followed by observation. (logistics are a little simpler for me with this method.)

FW dips do very little if anything for ich. If you want to be sure, use TT, copper, CP, or hypo in order of preference.

It's the observation period that is my concern and may be the deciding factor. If the fish is currently carrying but not affected, what are the chances of seeing anything during observation?

If the fish is carrying TT will eliminate ich.

 

[Deinonych]

Deinonych,

Thank-you for the reply. TT is definitely one of the choices I've been considering. FW dip followed by 2wks of 50% daily water change is the other leading candidate, followed by observation. (logistics are a little simpler for me with this method.)

It's the observation period that is my concern and may be the deciding factor. If the fish is currently carrying but not affected, what are the chances of seeing anything during observation?

It all depends on how much risk you want to assume. Tank transfer will eliminate cryptocaryon, but not other diseases such as velvet or brook. An observation period of 30 days post-TT will provide enough time for those diseases to manifest if present.

Observation-only QT assumes too much risk for me, as crypto is not always readily visible. TT is very simply to execute, so for me it's worth the small hassle of swapping/cleaning tanks for long-term peace of mind.

 

[snorvich]

It all depends on how much risk you want to assume. Tank transfer will eliminate cryptocaryon, but not other diseases such as velvet or brook. An observation period of 30 days post-TT will provide enough time for those diseases to manifest if present.

Observation-only QT assumes too much risk for me, as crypto is not always readily visible. TT is very simply to execute, so for me it's worth the small hassle of swapping/cleaning tanks for long-term peace of mind.

Exactly.

 

[Redtack]

Excellent food for thought! I just finished going through the Tank Transfer thread and didn't realize unfiltered tubs could be used, logistic issues solved! So I still wonder about velvet and brook. Will a fish carrying either almost always show signs during a 6 wk quarantine, or do they have the immune/not prone carrier issues also?

I appreciate your help greatly!

 

[snorvich]

Excellent food for thought! I just finished going through the Tank Transfer thread and didn't realize unfiltered tubs could be used, logistic issues solved! So I still wonder about velvet and brook. Will a fish carrying either almost always show signs during a 6 wk quarantine, or do they have the immune/not prone carrier issues also?

I appreciate your help greatly!

Fish carrying velvet or brook will exhibit within 3 weeks. The odds of a fish bringing in brook or velvet as an immune carrier is low. I am always especially careful of fish coming from systems with a non-therapeutic dose of copper in their system.