prolonged stages of ich

[n3mo]

I have qt one fish and now noticed another fish from my display has ich. If I were to remove that fish to another qt tank and if the remaining fish show now visible signs of ich. If after the 8 wks of QT would ther be a chance to reinfect the fish I QT'd.

My question is can ich stay in the theront stage for prolonged/indefinate time period. Or is it possible that because some fish have a higher immune system to ich that the ich is unable to multiply past a certain point that would alow visible inspection on the fish's body. If so, does ich have a preferred area of the fish that it is most likely to infect first?

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

As long as there are fish in your display, the ich will live.
All fish need to be removed and treated and the display left fallow for at least 4 weeks, I prefer 6

Some fish are more resistant to ich, but even those fish can become infested if left untreated. My first experience with ich is an example. All the fish EXCEPT my Salon Fairy Wrasse had visible spots. The Wrasse never did get the 'white spots' of ich but he did behave as if he were irritated. I am sure he was infected like the others but was not affected the same.

 

[n3mo]

So is it possible that ich can lay dormant on a host that has higher immunity?

Can ich stay in a stage without progressing

 

[n3mo]

I m under the impression that you need to let the tank fallow for more than 4 wks possibly 8wks.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

No, ich does not lie dormant..it will continue to go through its life cycle as long as there is a host in the tank..Best to let the tank go fallow for at least 6 weeks

 

[TWallace]

Aren't some fish immune to ich (like Mandarins)? Would they break ich's life cycle if they were the only fish in the display?

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

The only fish immune to ich are Sharks and Rays..Other fish such as Mandrins and Wrasses and even eels are more resistant, but they can get ich