Everything you Need to Know About Treating White Spot Disease in Tropical Fish
The white spot disease is undoubtedly one of the most common parasitic diseases that tropical fish should face in their aquariums. It is believed that this dangerous condition is responsible for causing more deaths than any other similar disease. Most aquarists have had to deal with white spot before, because it is an easy to prevent disease.
What is White spot (ich disease)?
Also known as ick or ich, this parasitic disease is caused by a powerful ciliate protozoan, which is a single celled parasite organism that propels itself through water making use of filament-like hairs, known as cilia. These cells are usually visible with the naked eye, measuring somewhere between 0.5 and 1 mm in diameter. When this condition propagates, it will reach the first layer of skin, starting to eat skin cells and causing cellular ruptures. The result of these ruptures is white spot that will eventually kill the fish due to their negative effect on the skin.
As the disease progresses, an increasing number of spots appear on the fish body, affecting its breath, sight and other vital functions. This disease is known for several centuries, since the Sung dynasty was ruling over the huge Chinese empire. However, scientists have discovered it only last century, when a group of researchers from Hamburg conducted a thorough research on tropical fish. This is when they have discovered how white spot appears, how to prevent it and most importantly how to treat it.
How did it Get in?
White spot usually appears in a tank when new infected plants or fish are brought in. In addition, it can appear in an instant. When this occurs, it means that the organisms have been present for a while in the tank, but they were hibernating. A change in the water temperature or a new stimulus has made the organism to become active. The parasite will try to bond to a host, which is usually the oldest, sickest or weakest fish in the tank.
After one week of parasitism, this organism which is now mature detaches from its old host, bonding to a new surface, which will more than likely be a plant. Next, it will form a protective capsule around it, entering a hibernating stance for another week or so. During this time, the cell inside the capsule starts to divide into another 1,000 cells. By the time the week is up, the cell has already transformed into a huge 1,000 smaller cells organism which is deadly. All these smaller cells will begin roaming inside the tank, attaching to other tropical fish inside.
White spot is an extremely contagious disease, progressing extremely rapidly. Unless you do something to prevent or treat it, expect a 100% mortality rate.
How to Prevent White Spot
Obviously, the best cure for white spot is prevention. Some of the most important things you can do to prevent this disease from showing up in the first place include:
- – Buy only healthy fish, from a well-famed breeder.
- – Inspect the tank on a regular basis. Are the plants healthy? Is the tank in good condition? Is the gravel clean of dust and sediments? Is the water warm enough? Ask all of these questions in order to ensure the white spot disease is prevented.
- – Clean the ornaments and gravel thoroughly before placing them into the tank.
- – Inspect all the fish in the tank, both old and new. Check especially for those hiding under rocks. This is one of the main symptoms of white spot – infected fish are hiding behind ornaments or under the rocks, so make sure you check all the fish in the tank.
- – Take care of the water condition. Maintain optimal levels of temperature and PH for the species of exotic fish which live in the aquarium.
- – Change the water frequently.
- – Never add new fish and plants in the tank without having a prior quarantine period of two weeks.
- – Check the fish regularly. The earlier you detect the white spot, the better for your fish and for your investment.
What if It’s Too Late?
Well, in case you are already facing an outbreak in your aquarium, you don’t have to worry. Even if this is a serious illness, it is very easy to treat. One of the best methods to treat white spot is by using aquarium salts. According to the scientists, parasites and microorganisms are way less tolerant to salts than fish. In other words, adding extra salt might kill all these dangerous organisms, without affecting the fish.
However, if you choose this method, make sure you follow all the instructions on the package in order to minimize side effects and reduce potential damage on the fish. Also, ensure that there are no salt-intolerant exotic fish in the aquarium, such as Cardinals, Catfish or Glow-Lights. These fish are easily burned by salt, and you don’t want that.
The second method to treat white spot is by using malachite green. This is a toxic chemical for humans and plants, so if you choose to go with this method, make sure you remove any plants from the aquarium. Moreover, make sure you wear gloves before administering the solution. It usually takes up to 5 days for the virus to be removed, but you should use the solution for at least 7 days. Wait another 3 days before putting all the plants and snails back in.
Another good alternative is UV light. Purchase inner-tank filters that feature UV lights from the closest pet store in order to enjoy a stress-free removal of the parasites. These UV lights kill all the parasites while in the capsule stage, so they won’t get to attach more fish.
The last method, which is the most effective, even if it is quite time-consuming, is the transfer method. Move all the fish into a new aquarium each day. You will need to perform 7 transfers per week, one each day. Even if this process is quite stressing, it is still one of the most common methods people use, because it is cost-free and a little bit more natural.
See more: Tropical Fish Care Tips