How to Treat Your Aquarium Fish for Ich

Ich is a parasitic disease that effects freshwater fish and lead to their death if left untreated. This is why it is important to begin a multi-stage treatment of the problem as soon as you see signs that your freshwater fish may be infected with ich.

Ich is most commonly introduced into a healthy aquarium through a fish recently purchased that is acting as a host for the disease. Often, due to the crowded conditions inherent in pet shop aquariums and fish breeders, minor signs of ich are not noticed before the fish is sold. Any time the fish then comes into contact with other fish, the disease can spread. Without enough time for the fish to be diagnosed and treated, an infected fish may be introduced to your aquarium before it even begins to show signs of being infected.

Some of the markers you need to look for in an infected fish are the white spots that appear on the scales and the fins of the host fish, cloudy eyes, and generally lethargic behavior. You may also notice rapid breathing, rubbing up against rocks, and loss of appetite.

When treating ich in your aquarium, it is important to assume that as soon as one fish shows signs of the disease, the rest of your tank may also be affected. For this reason, securing the fish away from the other fish in your tank may not be effective in eradicating the parasite. It is best to apply the treatment to the entire tank to avoid any possibility of cross-contamination.

Begin by raising the temperature of the aquarium to 77 degrees and holding at this temperature for seven days. This will speed up the life cycle of the ich parasite and make it easier to eradicate. Next, add marine salt to the aquarium until its specific gravity reaches a level of 1.002. Ich is less able to tolerate brackish water than fish are, so this will help alleviate the ich infestation. Finally, chemicals are available that kill the free-floating ich parasites within the aquarium. Purchase one of these in either tablet or chemical form, and add it in the proper quantity to your aquarium.

Completing the treatment in this fashion will effectively clear the ich parasite from your aquarium, but remember in the future to quarantine your new fish purchases for a few days before adding them to your tank so that you can prevent future ich outbreaks that could endanger all of your aquarium fish.

"Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies"; Maddy Hargrove; 2006