Parasite claimed 1 fish not the other 2...

[WhiteTang]

Hi everyone!

I have a question about ICH.
My system has 2 clowns that have been living happily for about 3 months now.
3 weeks ago I added a yellow goby that died yesterday from what I believe was ICH. I could see white spots on his body a week ago and before he died he had some serious white specks on his body.
The clowns seem to be immune and don't show any signs of the parasite.

So my question is. Was it really ICH? I know it is a tough question to answer, which brings me to my other question.

Will my system be always infected with this parasite unless I take out the clowns and leave my tank fallow for 3 months?
Or will the parasite die out within a 3-4 month period even with the clowns inside. I mean since it cannot attach/affect them it will die out.. No?

 

[ThRoewer]

Some fish are naturally immune/resistant, others acquire immunity after a non lethal infection, and some, that never encountered ich before may die of it if you don't intervene.

If the clowns are fully immune the parasite may indeed die out (I'm fairly sure I had that happen in past systems several times).
If they are only partially immune they may harbor a low level infection that may not bother them much but may infect newly added fish if those have no immunity/resistance (I had that happen too).

You can do nothing and see how it goes.
The other option is to try to eradicate it with TTM and a sufficient fallow period of at least 72 days.

Though nothing can 100% guarantee that it is gone for good - in the end only time will tell.

If you plan adding tangs or other ich prone fish I would recommend the TTM/fallow option.

I would also recommend to read up on Cryptocaryon irritans (ich), its life cycle, treatment option, acquired immunity, and whatever else there is to know.

After reading a lot research papers ich has lost its terror to me - there are other parasites and diseases that are far worse.

 

[WhiteTang]

Some fish are naturally immune/resistant, others acquire immunity after a non lethal infection, and some, that never encountered ich before may die of it if you don't intervene.

If the clowns are fully immune the parasite may indeed die out (I'm fairly sure I had that happen in past systems several times).
If they are only partially immune they may harbor a low level infection that may not bother them much but may infect newly added fish if those have no immunity/resistance (I had that happen too).

You can do nothing and see how it goes.
The other option is to try to eradicate it with TTM and a sufficient fallow period of at least 72 days.

Though nothing can 100% guarantee that it is gone for good - in the end only time will tell.

If you plan adding tangs or other ich prone fish I would recommend the TTM/fallow option.

I would also recommend to read up on Cryptocaryon irritans (ich), its life cycle, treatment option, acquired immunity, and whatever else there is to know.

After reading a lot research papers ich has lost its terror to me - there are other parasites and diseases that are far worse.

Thank you for the fast response.
I do not plan to add surgeons or any other "delicate" fish since my tank is a 16g. I believe I could add another small fish like a fire-fish or a tiny yellow goby but thats about it. I don't want to overload it and have to deal with algae.
I think I will just wait a couple months to see how the clowns are doing and if all goes well I will try an new fish.

 

[snorvich]

A pair of clownfish of any species in a 16 gallon tank maxes it out as the clowns will be aggressive when mature.

 

[WhiteTang]

A pair of clownfish of any species in a 16 gallon tank maxes it out as the clowns will be aggressive when mature.

Thank you for sharing your opinion snorvich!

 

[ThRoewer]

16 gallon should be OK for a pair of percula and a pair of small dottybacks, gobies or even damsels. I had those together in 60 to 80 liter broodstock tanks and there was no fighting.
Though in my experience percula are less bold than ocellaris. Of my 4 current pairs the 3 in gigantea carpet anemones hardly ever leave them. The pair that only has malus ventures more out into the tank but shows no aggression to other fish.
The ocellaris I had in the past were more venturous.
Though I would say both of these species do not tend to be aggressive without first being provoked by other fish (or egg stealing hands).