Sick of ich!

[Stuart60611]

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Because ich is a parasite and not a disease; I've never really understood how a fish's immune system could prevent a serious attack by ich.

Well, you are not alone because neither has science.:fun4: What is really interesting on this topic is there is study which determined that independent of any vitamins or the like boosting fish immune responses certain fish (not any particular species) develop two types of immunities to crypt all on their own. One immunity is a partial immunity in which the fish is able to resist parasites to a substantial degree where the parasite count on fish was greatly reduced. The other immunity was found to be a complete immunity where the fish was literally able to resist any crypt parasites from attaching, and the fish had no detectable parasites. The study, however, also found that in all circumstances both immunites, whether partial or full, were transitory and temporary in nature and only lasted for a period of months with the partial immunity generally lasting longer than the full immunity. Once the immunity stoped, the fish became infested with the parasite. No explanation was offered as to why these immunities developed, nor any indication of how to encourage them and why they were only temporary.

Below is an article where you will find a reference to this study.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/mini5.htm

 

[spehhh]

*Just a note, lets keep the language clean ok? If a word is on the censor its best to just not use it at all. There are little kids on this board . Thanks.

haha i added the stars on my own but thanks for the 411

 

[spehhh]

Reef safe treatments like the ones you mention DO NOT WORK......

So skip that step.

Get the fish in a QT with great water quality, do frequent water changes, get the fish eating for a week or two.....Then decide on your course of treatment. If the fish stays clean during the first 2 weeks I start with a Prazi treatment. If something comes up then I treat accordingly. But copper or Hypo are the only treatments that work. Some are now using chloriquine that also seems to be effective.

SAVE YOUR MONEY and stay away from reef safe treatments.

i had a friend who believe the "reef safe" and i watched his whole system go down the drains.... i never believe it. i dont believe copper and formalin are in the ocean naturally haha

 

[RBU1]

i had a friend who believe the "reef safe" and i watched his whole system go down the drains.... i never believe it. i dont believe copper and formalin are in the ocean naturally haha

OH But Reef safe treatments are in the Ocean?? OK Do some more research on the topic before you post such nonsense.

 

[hottuna]

"i had a friend who believe the "reef safe" and i watched his whole system go down the drains.... "

Can you explain that statement , spehhh?...

 

[bmkj02]

What if you cant get your fish out??? Have a big tank and in order to get them out I would basically have to take my whole system down. Cant you do this without having a QT?
Also, whats the cause of ICH? I am asking this cause a friend of mine just got it in his tank and they are no new additions to his tank since the last several months. People say QT your new fish but thats not his case. I also hear the Ich is always in your tank????

 

[RBU1]

What if you cant get your fish out??? Have a big tank and in order to get them out I would basically have to take my whole system down. Cant you do this without having a QT?
Also, whats the cause of ICH? I am asking this cause a friend of mine just got it in his tank and they are no new additions to his tank since the last several months. People say QT your new fish but thats not his case. I also hear the Ich is always in your tank????

Well if you can't get the fish out you just have to take your chances and hope the fish can continue to fight it off. Trust me I have been thru it twice.....I have a 300 gallon tank that was broken down twice for crypt breakouts. THe cause of crypt.....Its a parasite...

Crypt is not always present you have to introduce it. Not sure what your story is about your friend I don't understand what you are trying to say...

 

[vamaro]

+1 on Stuart's reply. I have had ick on 3 occasions (2 from trying to keep an achilles). I tried the "reef safe" stuff, feedings, etc. The only thing that has worked for me is removing the fish and using copper.

In case the topic of UV's comes up in this thread: I have 2 Aqua UV's (57 & 40). However, once the ick is heavy in your display it will not stop it from spreading to other fish. However, if you run your DT fish less for a while, it should help clear it out but I have no way to prove that it does. I change my bulb once a year.

 

[Orcrone]

+1 on Stuart's reply. I have had ick on 3 occasions (2 from trying to keep an achilles). I tried the "reef safe" stuff, feedings, etc. The only thing that has worked for me is removing the fish and using copper.

In case the topic of UV's comes up in this thread: I have 2 Aqua UV's (57 & 40). However, once the ick is heavy in your display it will not stop it from spreading to other fish. However, if you run your DT fish less for a while, it should help clear it out but I have no way to prove that it does. I change my bulb once a year.

Vince. If you have the proper flow rate it will kill parasites. However it will only kill what actually passes through the UV sterilizer. Since you can't guarantee all parasites will pass through the unit it can only reduce, but not eliminate all parasites.

I guess a UV is similar to the 'reef-safe' ich meds. They may kill some parasites, or even all parasites under certain conditions. But only copper & hyposalinity will kill all crypt parasites under normal tank operating parameters.