How to identify ICH

Discussion in 'Coral Diseases' started by cody3819, Sep 25, 2015.

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  1. cody3819

    cody3819 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    I am somewhat new to the hoby. this is my first post on 3reef, so be kind. LOL. so i have a clown fish that is very pretty, aggresive and ful of energy. this fish loves to eat and it also will bully my other clown and carnial fish. now today when i came home from work i noticed salt like spots on its upper back behind the head. it is very small spots but im not sure if it is ich or not? sorry i dont have a camera that is good enough for get a good detailed pic. can somone give me a little hint of identifying white ich.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Sounds like a wait and watch, I would not jump on removal and treatment over one spot. However I would check the fish multiple times per day for the next week, if you see development of tiny salt grain like spots then you have to decide what intervention would work best for your system.

    Welcome to 3reef.
     
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  4. cody3819

    cody3819 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Thanks for the advice, this just may be the first time I may have a issue with my fish.
     
  5. cody3819

    cody3819 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Do you believe feeding garlic may help. Even in the case that nothing is wrong?
     
  6. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    ich can be caused my many things. such as bad water quality,not enough swimming space, aggresion etc. in directly a poor diet can cause ich as well. when your fishes immune system is weakened by the factors mentioned above it will develop ich (and other pathogens if they are present in the system). ich is actually a parasite that burrows its cysts (the salt like grains we see) in the fishes body. once these hatch the spots vanish and ich floats around in the water column till its ready to reproduce again and the whole cycle starts over.

    some people will say ich is the devils new born. others, like me dont consider it a big deal as long as i am able to keep my fish healthy. im also a strong believer in good diet and i do feed garlic. do i have any scientific proof it actually helps my fish? no, though garlic is known to have many beneficial properties for us humans. a healthy fish will be able to naturally repel the parasite.

    with this being said it should not be underestimated as it can be lethal if it reaches the gill area.

    could you provide us with more details on your system so we can narrow down the potential causes of the issue?

    things like;
    size of tank
    live stock
    ammonia levels
    nitrate levels
    nitrit levels
    salinity

    there are numerous ways to treat ich and they are all a PITA, or at least are for my standards.... prevention is the best treatment but if your system is infected then the fishes health becomes primordial
     
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  7. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    I do not believe that garlic nor ginger are therapeutic, they may enhance appetite.
     
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  9. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Nope, not at all.

    "Also, there are a number of hobbyists which have used garlic and suffered significant losses of fish as well."

    http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/sp/
     
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  10. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    thx for that link mr.B
     
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  11. cody3819

    cody3819 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    I have a biocube 29. I have 10 hermits 1 emerald crab 3 nassuareus snails a red star fish 2 clowns and a bangaii cardnial.
    Water quality
    Calcium-420
    PH - 8.0
    Nitrate-0
    Nitrite -0
    Amonia -0
    I also have a toadstool, Kenya tree, xenia, frogs pawn, green stars polyps, finger leather and some zoas.
     
  12. cody3819

    cody3819 Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Also my salinity is 1.024. Forgot to mention that.