cold water to kill ich?

[jtf74]

So my whole setup is spread and separated around in 4 or 5 places due to ich QT. We had 30 hours without power last week and 12 degrees outside, so I had to take some heaters from one fallow tank to keep up on the tanks with livestock. So the water in it measured about 45 at one point. I've seen discussions about high temps killing ich but anyone know about cold tolerance?

 

[Doctorgori]

I dunno but at current marine fish prices the verification / research might be a lil risky…
Interesting question

 

[vetteguy53081]

So my whole setup is spread and separated around in 4 or 5 places due to ich QT. We had 30 hours without power last week and 12 degrees outside, so I had to take some heaters from one fallow tank to keep up on the tanks with livestock. So the water in it measured about 45 at one point. I've seen discussions about high temps killing ich but anyone know about cold tolerance?

Cold will support ich and years ago chilling was blamed on ich onset which I doubt. It lowers metabolism of fish if anything. Higher temops will often shorten the life of ich

 

[jtf74]

Cold will support ich and years ago chilling was blamed on ich onset which I doubt. It lowers metabolism of fish if anything. Higher temops will often shorten the life of ich

Well I guess I'll wait the full period then.

 

[fishyjoes]

It looks like cold isn't a good way to kill them - I found a paper that makes a related claim

FA164/FA164: Cryptocaryon irritans Infections (Marine White Spot Disease) in Fish

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension outreach is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU)...

edis.ifas.ufl.edu

A more recent study demonstrated that two life stages of one strain of Cryptocaryon (trophonts, i.e., the feeding stage during which the parasite can be found on the fish, and tomonts) survived dormant for 4–5 months at 12°C (53.6°F), and, after the water temperature increased to 27°C (80.6°F), developed and infected fish (Dan et al. 2009).

... and the cited reference if you want to dig further...

Dan, X.M., X.T. Lin, Y.X Yan, N. Teng, Z.L. Tan, and A.X. Li. 2009. A technique for the preservation of Cryptocaryon irritans at low temperatures. Aquaculture 297: 112–115.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004484860900828X

 

[jtf74]

It looks like cold isn't a good way to kill them - I found a paper that makes a related claim

FA164/FA164: Cryptocaryon irritans Infections (Marine White Spot Disease) in Fish

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension outreach is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU)...

edis.ifas.ufl.edu

A more recent study demonstrated that two life stages of one strain of Cryptocaryon (trophonts, i.e., the feeding stage during which the parasite can be found on the fish, and tomonts) survived dormant for 4–5 months at 12°C (53.6°F), and, after the water temperature increased to 27°C (80.6°F), developed and infected fish (Dan et al. 2009).

... and the cited reference if you want to dig further...

Dan, X.M., X.T. Lin, Y.X Yan, N. Teng, Z.L. Tan, and A.X. Li. 2009. A technique for the preservation of Cryptocaryon irritans at low temperatures. Aquaculture 297: 112–115.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004484860900828X

Good to know. I better get those heaters going then.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Good to know. I better get those heaters going then.

Yes - we've had issues with coldwater ich, and the tropical strain just slows down and "hibernates" at cooler temperatures.