pinned ich

[jollysue]

That was great in your pin. Learned some more.

It has been my understanding that if there are no fish in the tank, for the complete cycle, the cycle ends and the parasite dies. (My reading of your treatise says not correct.) What's correct?

In addition I have been encouraged now to use a mild ich med (Aquari-Sol) at every water change and once a week. It is not to do a full treatment just a one cycle through the filter thing to kill any, I guess, free swimming buggers. Is this appropriate or helpful?

 

[Lateral Line]

Thank you Jolly Sue, I'm glad you enjoyed(?!) it!

Removing all the fish will cause all of the free swimming tomites to die off fairly quickly, typically with a couple of days.

Any emerged trophonts will settle and encyst to form tomonts. These, with any already present tomonts will start dividing and after a temperature dependent period, typically less then 2 weeks, they rupture, and the new crop of tomites emerge, and then die off.

Thus removing all the fish from a tank for the entire lifecycle should clear the tank.

BUT, and note it is a big but, both the trophont and tomont stages of the life cycle can enter dormancy. This dormant period can last for months, probably years. Thus reintroducing fish with dormant trophonts can reinfect the tank, and a dormant tomont may errupt at any time.

I don't think you should medicate. If the tomite activity is low enough that the fishes immune system is dealing with it adequately, all you are doing is exposing the parasite to the medication which can lead to resistant strains developing.

 

[jollysue]

Good point!

Thanks, Lateral Line

 

[Teelie]

Yeah, IMO the only time you need to medicate the tank is when there's an outbreak. Unnecessary or "preventive" medication of the tank just leads to stronger, more resistent strains and can also weaken the immune system of your fish should they ever be exposed to unmedicated water with the parasites.

 

[jollysue]

Makes sense, Teelie.