Ich (white spots on fish)

Subject: Ich (white spots on fish) Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:17 pm

Ich is probably the most common disease among fish. It's usually present in the aquarium all the time in small numbers. It's a free swimming organism that in times of stress or sometime when new fish are introduced to the tank. Ich will then attach to the fish skin. Ich then forms a outer shell or cyst, after a while it appears as tiny white spots. An Ich infestation make the fish appear to be covered in salt. While Ich is encysted on the fish, no medicine can affect it. But once it's free-swimming, it can be killed. Ich grows then falls off the fish, to start the reproductive cycle over.
How to get rid of Ich
Increase the water temperature up to 85-88 degrees.
Us aeration by adding air stones, warm water doesn't hold as much oxygen.
Along with a temperature change and added aeration, add about one teaspoon aquarium salt per gallon to the water to help the fish recover from the stress caused by the disease. Salt is also harmful to Ich.
Do a 50 percent water change on a daily basis for at least a week.
Try these steps before using chemicals.
There are chemicals to treat Ich, but most can be harmful to some of you fish.
If you choose to use chemicals to treat Ich read the instructions carefully, it would such to kill your fish with what you think is going to cure them.