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All About Ich

Ich (rhymes with "sick", short for ichthyophthirius multifiliis) is the most common disease found in aquariums. It is a protozoan, or single celled, parasite that shows up as tiny white spots all over your fish, making them look as if they had been covered with salt. Scientists have found that ALL fish ALWAYS have a few of these protozoans on them, just as we humans always have bacteria and germs on our bodies. Normally, a fish's body is resistant to infection, and there is no problem, but if the fish gets stressed, damaged, chilled, or in some other way his resistance is lowered, he is prone to an active outbreak of the disease. When this happens in the closed environment of an aquarium, everyone gets sick, much like a classroom of children pass around the flu. If the disease is left untreated, it is terminal. Fortunately, the problem is easily treated and even more easily prevented. At the first signs of the telltale white spots, the addition of an Ich treatment to the water will clear the problem up. The longer the outbreak goes untreated, the greater the chance of losing some fish. To prevent the disease, it is a good idea to add a dose of ich medicine to the aquarium whenever you add new fish to the population (especially in cold weather) or whenever anything has happened that could have stressed your fish and lowered their tolerance, such as moving the aquarium, gross overfeeding, fighting, extreme changes in temperature, etc. Some good brands of ich medications are Quick Cure, Ich Guard, and Formalite. For more information on understanding, detecting, treating, and preventing ich, ask one of the staff at the Tropical Shop.

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