Advanced Topic - Ich-Diseases-3reef Forums

YellowBelly · 02-21-2008, 07:21 PM

I just started working at a LFS and most of their fish have ich. My question is can I give my fish at home ich if I put my hands in the tank water? Maybe the adult stage of the parasite might not live out of water but how about the tomite stage (egg)?

reef_guru · 02-21-2008, 07:39 PM

air kills all stages of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. i would wash my hands after work prior to putting them into my tank anyway.

missionsix66 · 02-21-2008, 08:36 PM

Don't all tanks host this epidemic? It's only stress that causes vulnerability and susceptibility? I would be cautious with handling. I wouldn't stock my tank with fish from various places and I'd make it my mission to clean up the house.

YellowBelly · 02-21-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missionsix66

Don't all tanks host this epidemic? It's only stress that causes vulnerability and susceptibility? I would be cautious with handling. I wouldn't stock my tank with fish from various places and I'd make it my mission to clean up the house.

No, only if the tank has the parasite will the fish be able to catch ich. Even it they are not stressed they can still get it if the parasite is in the tank.