Protomonts and tomonts on live rock ?

[ginpang]

Alright I prided myself on never having parasites ever in any of my display tanks...I usually quarantine fish but not live rock or inverts.

The last fish I added was 3 months ago.

I bought a piece of live rock and 2 shrimps recently and all of a sudden I've noticed a clown goby with a spot on it's head and another on a fin.

Now I've been looking for this information on different websites describing cryptocarion life cycles and nothing!

Can protomonts and tomonts live outside water ? Is moisture enough to keep them alive ? If yes, does anyone know for how long?

Obviously the lfs guy said it was impossible... And he doesn't have any parasites ever in his systems... Blah blah...last time he sees me .

So I was wondering what you parasite experts thought. Did the cryptocarion come from the rock or did it most likely hitchhike with the shrimps?

Thank you

 

[ThRoewer]

The cysts are well protected and will survive even outside the water as long as they don't dry out internally - so yes, moisture on/in rocks may be enough to keep them alive.

The protomonts can also encyst on crustacean shells. Algae can grow on them and as a good rule of thumb, where algae can take a hold, ich cysts can as well.

I would also have a look into the articles about acquired ich immunity - it will explain why a system can have ich despite no fish exhibiting symptoms.

 

[ginpang]

That's kinda what I figured ... Thanks.
Yes, I've read the threads on acquired immunity.
Good stuff.