Can ich encyst on nems?

[midwestE]

I QT all my inverts and fish per the @Humblefish post and reference to "The ich study" about encystment.

In the study, ich wouldn't encyst on urchins or starfishstar wondered if nems would also be relatively safe as far as not needing quarantine.

 

[HotRocks]

The only risk with nems is they could transfer ich or velvet in the free swimming stage in the water they hold (if they came from an infected system). 16 day hold in a fish less system and they are good to go. You can't do the simple rinse with them since they retain water.

To answer the question ich/velvet tomonts can NOT encyst upon them.

 

[midwestE]

The only risk with nems is they could transfer ich or velvet in the free swimming stage in the water they hold (if they came from an infected system). 16 day hold in a fish less system and they are good to go. You can't do the simple rinse with them since they retain water.

To answer the question ich/velvet tomonts can NOT encyst upon them.

Good call on them retaining water, was thinking that a rinse would do, but I didn't think about it enough...mainly because my two QTs are filled and a local club guy was offering a nice 5" rainbow for $40 and dammmit i wanted it!

Will just have to wait and be patient, something I'm getting better and better at...76 days def makes me think twice

 

[HotRocks]

Good call on them retaining water, was thinking that a rinse would do, but I didn't think about it enough...mainly because my two QTs are filled and a local club guy was offering a nice 5" rainbow for $40 and dammmit i wanted it!

Will just have to wait and be patient, something I'm getting better and better at...76 days def makes me think twice

Patience is not something I possess. I will tell you though it's hard for me too and anytime I push it, I get bit.

Rainbows for 40 right now would have me setting up another QT LOL!

 

[midwestE]

Patience is not something I possess. I will tell you though it's hard for me too and anytime I push it, I get bit.

Rainbows for 40 right now would have me setting up another QT LOL!

dang you!! Well I do have an empty 5g with hob and heater . Just add water! 16 days is pretty short.

So how's that work then after 16 days. Any free swimming would die off in that period leaving the tank only left with dead ich since they have no fish host they just die off. Assuming that means they only encyst after feeding on the fish host

 

[HotRocks]

dang you!! Well I do have an empty 5g with hob and heater . Just add water! 16 days is pretty short.

So how's that work then after 16 days. Any free swimming would die off in that period leaving the tank only left with dead ich since they have no fish host they just die off. Assuming that means they only encyst after feeding on the fish host

That is correct. Free swimming and final stage (tomites). Ich free swimmers can only live for a couple days without a fish to host. Velvet free swimmers (dinospores) can survive up to two weeks solely from a light source. Couple day buffer is why 16 days is recommend.

So the free swimmers die off on their own without a fish to attach to and start the cycle over again.

 

[midwestE]

Well, that settles it:

• PMs sent
• Diseases managed
• and most important..Wife approval for third QT

He just detached from the rock and seems a bit angry but here's the new addition

 

[ngoodermuth]

Beautiful nem! Just want to clarify one thing... ich cannot encyst on the nem, but it can encyst on rock if it came attached to a piece of LR.

If the LR was added to the tank with the nem, that would up your QT time to 76 days...

 

[midwestE]

Beautiful nem! Just want to clarify one thing... ich cannot encyst on the nem, but it can encyst on rock if it came attached to a piece of LR.

If the LR was added to the tank with the nem, that would up your QT time to 76 days...

Understood, thank you. Fortunately, the nem just released from the seller's rock so I should be getting it without any hard surface for the baddies to adhere to