Fish Disease - Trouble with Ich
- Author Justin Cook
- Published September 24, 2012
- Word count 375
"Ich" is one of the most common freshwater diseases in fish. "Ich" is caused by the ciliated protozoa, Ichthyophthirius and is a major concern to aquarists and commercial fish producers across the globe. One of the most concerning aspects of this disease is that it is highly contagious and spreads quickly from one fish to another; furthermore, this disease has a high mortality rate and, if left untreated, may result in 100% mortality rate.
"Ich" is particularly harmful to the skin and gills and can be identified by small white spots on the skin and/or gills. These white spots are the result of the parasite burrowing into the skin of the fish to feed. In addition to the blister-like white spots on the skin and/or gills, your fish may seem sluggish or you may find them scratching themselves on rocks and gravel. You may also witness your fish bobbing at the top of the aquarium for air as the "Ich" infects the gill area.
Preventing "Ich" from taking hold in your aquarium is crucial to fish health. Practicing proper quarantine methods before adding new fish to the environment is the first step to prevention. Maintaining water quality, adding a consistent diet and avoiding temperature swings in the aquarium are all crucial steps to maintaining the health of your aquarium.
Treatment of "Ich" can be troublesome due to the parasites’ uncommon life cycle. Water temperature plays a significant role on the parasites’ life cycle and can be leveraged in the treatment of the disease. While chemical or parasitic treatments of the disease may rid fish of the parasites affecting them, these treatments usually breakdown in the aquarium by the time the second or third generation emerges from cysts left from the first generation. For this reason, increasing water temperature speeds up the life cycle so fewer treatments may be used.
Unlike other fish diseases, any outbreak of "Ich" should be treated immediately and aggressively. Because it is easily introduced into an aquarium, proper quarantine methods, along with a good diet and water quality, should be followed to prevent this horrible disease from affecting your fish.
Please visit our website: http://www.fishbioticspro.com/fish-antibiotics.html for a full line of fish antibiotics for fish health.
I'm a network engineer, who has many years experience working for the Department of Defense (DoD), both state-side and abroad. I'm an avid aquarist, maintaining both fresh and saltwater tanks.
http://www.fishbioticspro.com/fish-antibiotics.html
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- How Much Per Meal Should I Feed My Puppy?
- Selecting the Perfect Pet for Your Lifestyle Made Easy: Experts 7 Tips
- Horse Box Hacks: How Equine Awnings Elevate Your Travel Experience
- Why Regular Pet Grooming Is Important For A Happy And Healthy Pet
- Unleash Your Dog’s Potential: Effective Techniques for Improving Communication and Obedience
- The Illusion of CSR Training Is Finally Reality - BUILDING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATH FOR CSRs
- The Diet of a Dog Affects Dental Health
- Do Pets at Home Remove Ticks? What You Should Know About Pet Tick Removal
- The Importance of Cat Furniture Accessories for Your Feline Friend
- Top 6 Pet Products You Need for Your Sweet, Furry Friend
- A QUICK GUIDE ON HOW TO USE PET GROOMING GLOVES PROPERLY!
- Dogs and Cats Compared
- Blog posts 5 Useful Tips on How to Clean Fish Poop in Tank
- The Importance Of Spending The Extra Cash On A Larger Rabbit Hutch
- Street Dogs in Nepal | Animal Welfare Nepal | Oxsa Nepal
- The Importance of Pet Care
- Tips on keeping your bird happy and healthy
- Why pet insurance – and why now?
- 600 million dogs
- What You Need to Know About Canine Deafness
- Pet Relocation - Tips For International Pet Moving
- Dengue Mosquitoes Best Ways To Avoid Dengue
- 5 Unique but Helpful Services for Your Pets
- To Meet Hero Dog Crate Mat
- Are you looking for a valid ESA letter? A complete guide to get an ESA.
- Facts about Best Self Cleaning Litter Box Uncovered
- Are Bird Toys Useful for Your Pet?
- Pets-ability is the Best Online Pet Supplies & Pet Medicine Store
- Cat Litter Choices
- Animals Turn to Nature for Self-Medication