Natural Vitamins

The parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) causes the Ich disease in fish and kill them fast in large numbers. The parasite also gives its name to the disease. It is also known as the white spot disease. This name fits well because fish afflicted with the disease may have white specks on their skin as though they had been sprinkled with salt. The disease typically affects fish in aquariums.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis when converted to English means fish louse with many children. This title is quite apt, as each Ich parasite can give rise to over a thousand offspring. Although Ich is only a skin infection in fish, it may become fatal for them when ill health due to poor diet and habitat also co-exist.

The symptoms of the Ich syndrome include small white sand-like specks on the skin of fish. Small outbreaks go unnoticed, but the severe form is easy to spot. The parasite burrows its way inside the skin of fish and feeds on blood and dead cells. White cysts on the body of the fish result due to the burrowing. The resultant irritation makes the skin of fish to swell. The fish may react in the same fashion as humans do after a mosquito bite.

They also include scratching of or rubbing of their skin by fish against rocks and gravel. When in an advanced stage, bloody streaks, redness, or tiredness in fish are also found.

The blood-filled parasite after feasting on the fish for several days turns into a trophozoite. It burrows out of the fish and sinks to the bottom of the tank. It then first provides a protective cocoon around itself made of a jelly-like soft substance and subsequently reproduces into tomites. These are hundreds of baby parasites. The tomites soon become hungry, break open the cocoon and come out into the water.

They then feast on whatever is still left in the fish to provide food for themselves. During the subsequent three days only, when they are still swimming in the water, are they vulnerable to medication. This opportunity should not be lost as after these parasites burrow into the skin of fish, they would be safe from the action of medication in the form of chemicals injected into the tank water.

Treatment: This includes raising the temperature of water in the tank, medication for approximately ten to fourteen days, and reducing medication during the treatment of scaleless fish. It also involves changing the water in the tank between two treatment stages and discontinuation of carbon filtration during the period of the treatment. The cycle of treatment takes a fortnight from beginning it till completion.

While treatment must be persisted with till all parasites are killed, due attention is also required to observe if problems such as secondary infections are visible on the skin of fish.

Medications that prove effective against Ich disease include malachite green, quinine hydrochloride, methylene blue and mepracrine hydrochloride.