Do snails get ich?
- Thread starter sandyB
- Start date
I treated for ich well over a year ago. My one and only outbreak. I had snails and ghostshrimp in the tank (still do). They all made it through fine. Although, I will admit that I followed the dosing instructions on the box of Dr. Wellfish's aquarium salt. According to most people here, that's too low to treat ich..........
I mention that because I don't know what the higher concentrations of salt will do to shrimp and snails. I imagine they'd be fine. But, like I said, I didn't use the treatment levels recommended here so take my snail/shrimp survival experience with a grain of salt........you might not have the same experience at higher concentrations.
I mention that because I don't know what the higher concentrations of salt will do to shrimp and snails. I imagine they'd be fine. But, like I said, I didn't use the treatment levels recommended here so take my snail/shrimp survival experience with a grain of salt........you might not have the same experience at higher concentrations.
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This comment compelled me to do some more reading.
You are correct that it isn't necessarily an ever present however, it can lie dormant in a tank for long periods and fish that have been exposed to it can carry it without ever being infected. Additionally, the only stage at which it is susceptible to medication is during the free swimming theront stage.
In this case, there is no question that the new fish is the cause, and will indirectly be responsible for any subsequent outbreaks. It is untrue however that there is a 100% chance that ich parasite will be killed off completely during treatment. The free swimming theronts will indeed be killed by the treatment or will die within 6 hours of not finding a host, but the "cyst" stage as it's commonly referred to - the mature parasite that releases from the host, can lie dormant in the substrate for long periods, waiting to release 300 to 1000 theronts depending on what source you read.
Yes, parasites can and do go dormant. However, they usually do so when conditions for their survival aren't favorable. The ich parasite is compelled to carry out all stages of its life cycle by being warm and wet. These are the condtions that it "likes" because that is when it is likely to encounter a fish host. While in the cyst, it has no way of determining salt levels so it won't know conditions are bad until it emerges. As long as the tank temp is kept elevated and there is water in the tank, the parasite will not lie dormant for any period of time. So, actually, if you maintain whatever treatment dosage you use in conjunction with a higher temperature for long enough (usually about a week after the last spot goes away) you will clear the tank of ich because there will be no dormant cysts.
Let's stop spreading misinformation regarding Ick...
Unfortunately there is much misinformation going around regarding Ick. I'm sure that those contributing to this mean well, and do so with the best of intent. That doesn't make it any more correct though...
According to Dr. Peter Burgess, who did his PhD on Ick, the protozoa that causes Ick does not have a dormant stage. It is not capable of forming a spore (needed to go dormant). It must cycle through its trophont - tomont - theront stages. Note that the cycle time is temperature dependent; At regular aquarium temperatures (25C and up) this takes a matter of days, for a nearly frozen pond this can be several weeks.
In short, Ick cannot lie dormant for long periods of time. Consequently, fish cannot carry it without getting infected. Ick's life cycle means it has to infect the fish to survive (and multiply). There is some debate that some fish may have a good enough immune system where they can have a limited infection (say the gills only, where it's not visible) and become an asymptomatic carrier for a short amount of time. Don't expect this to last very long though, as soon as Ick has cycled through once it'll release thousands of new theronts that will quickly infect every other fish in that tank, making its presence obvious. If you want to read a bit more about Ick, this is an informative article:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml
It is a pity that there is so much misinformation around regarding Ick. Not just amongst hobbyists, but at least as much amongst the "pros". Just last weekend I had a discussion in two LFS' with employees that otherwise seemed knowledgeable and dedicated to fish keeping. They were both absolutely convinced "Ick is always present in fish tanks". Both cited scientific literature as their source, but when I told them I would very much like to read that they couldn't produce anything specific. Especially at the level of the local fish store it would help greatly if they properly understood the beasty, not just so they don't spread false information, but more so they understand how to prevent spreading Ick to their customers.
This forum has a great many participants and readers. It would be good if we can set the Ick record straight here, and put a stop to the spread of misinformation.
-Rob-
Unfortunately there is much misinformation going around regarding Ick. I'm sure that those contributing to this mean well, and do so with the best of intent. That doesn't make it any more correct though...
According to Dr. Peter Burgess, who did his PhD on Ick, the protozoa that causes Ick does not have a dormant stage. It is not capable of forming a spore (needed to go dormant). It must cycle through its trophont - tomont - theront stages. Note that the cycle time is temperature dependent; At regular aquarium temperatures (25C and up) this takes a matter of days, for a nearly frozen pond this can be several weeks.
In short, Ick cannot lie dormant for long periods of time. Consequently, fish cannot carry it without getting infected. Ick's life cycle means it has to infect the fish to survive (and multiply). There is some debate that some fish may have a good enough immune system where they can have a limited infection (say the gills only, where it's not visible) and become an asymptomatic carrier for a short amount of time. Don't expect this to last very long though, as soon as Ick has cycled through once it'll release thousands of new theronts that will quickly infect every other fish in that tank, making its presence obvious. If you want to read a bit more about Ick, this is an informative article:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml
It is a pity that there is so much misinformation around regarding Ick. Not just amongst hobbyists, but at least as much amongst the "pros". Just last weekend I had a discussion in two LFS' with employees that otherwise seemed knowledgeable and dedicated to fish keeping. They were both absolutely convinced "Ick is always present in fish tanks". Both cited scientific literature as their source, but when I told them I would very much like to read that they couldn't produce anything specific. Especially at the level of the local fish store it would help greatly if they properly understood the beasty, not just so they don't spread false information, but more so they understand how to prevent spreading Ick to their customers.
This forum has a great many participants and readers. It would be good if we can set the Ick record straight here, and put a stop to the spread of misinformation.
-Rob-
