Can fish survive ich?

Jrswish · Nov 2, 2021

My anthias has an ich outbreak now, still eating, not very lethargic, is it possible she makes it / my other fish don’t have spots yet, can they survive too?

blaxsun · Nov 2, 2021

Yes and yes, but the odds go down without any kind of timely treatment.

Jay Hemdal · Nov 2, 2021

Jrswish said:
My anthias has an ich outbreak now, still eating, not very lethargic, is it possible she makes it / my other fish don’t have spots yet, can they survive too?

I was just working on a case where two damselfish apparently survived a massive ich outbreak that killed other fish. It is pretty rare though. Are you confident with your ich diagnosis?

What typically happens is this: a fish develops increasing numbers of trophonts (spots). These in turn release higher number of tomonts that turn into theronts (swimmers). Fish with good immune systems can fight off a certain number of theronts, but the theronts themselves begin to stress the fish (propagule pressure). At a tipping point, they also become infected.

Jay Hemdal

nick0206 · Nov 2, 2021

About 8 years ago I had an ich on hippo tang. He was very weak, he was pulled to the bottom. An amazing fact, the yellow tang, the second surgeon fish, wrapped its body around the hippo and lifted it to the top of the tank, preventing it from sinking. I was very afraid that the yellow tang would get sick, but this did not happen, and after 3 days everything went away with the Hippo.

flashsmith · Nov 2, 2021

I recently had a very bad outbreak. I introduced a fish from a source I had never used before and sure enough it happened. I lost a couple of fish and noticed my wrasses never got it at all. I had no choice but to let it run its course at the time. I found selcon and started adding it into their diet. It really helped my fish fight it off and two months later no signs of ich. Its inevitable that it will end up in your system. Just like aptasia or anything else you don't want.

Jrswish · Nov 2, 2021

I only have a 5g tank, i have a maroon clown, a starry blenny, my lyretail anthias who has the outbreak, and a scooter blenny. what’s my best course of action? I have like $800 worth of coral/nems in my tank so I can’t dose copper or any medication.

Tamberav · Nov 2, 2021

Jrswish said:
I only have a 5g tank, i have a maroon clown, a starry blenny, my lyretail anthias who has the outbreak, and a scooter blenny. what’s my best course of action? I have like $800 worth of coral/nems in my tank so I can’t dose copper or any medication.

5g tank a typo?

((FORDTECH)) · Nov 2, 2021

Jrswish said:
I only have a 5g tank, i have a maroon clown, a starry blenny, my lyretail anthias who has the outbreak, and a scooter blenny. what’s my best course of action? I have like $800 worth of coral/nems in my tank so I can’t dose copper or any medication.

Best coarse of action is get a bigger tank so causes less stress on your fish…