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Prevent Ich Fish Disease – How To Prevent Ich ( White Spot Disease)

By Jamie Boyle

Many people often wonder ” How Do I Prevent Ich ” from reaching my aquarium and infecting my fish. There are ways in which you can prevent ich from reaching your tank. Here are some simple ich preventative measures you can do to keep ich away and how to prevent white spot disease from reaching your fish:

1. Never buy fish from an aquarium that contain sick fish at a pet store. Look for signs of ich, other external parasites or fish diseases before you make a fish purchase. You may be bringing home more then fish, some hitch hikers as well.

Sarassa Comets2. Before adding new fish to your aquarium or pond you need to quarantine new arrivals for minimum 2-4 weeks to make sure fish are okay and healthy. If not, you may be introducing ich, other external parasites or fish diseases to already healthy fish.

3. When buying aquarium plants or pond plants be sure to disinfect them before placing them in your tank or pond. To do so you can use Potassium Permanganate solution and dip the water plants in it. By doing so you can reduce the chance of introducing ich and other parasites to your aquarium.

4. Never add water to your aquarium or pond from the pet store where you may have bought fish or water plants. Fish should be netted out and water discarded. Water may contain parasites like ich (white spot disease) or other external parasites.

5. Never use the same netting and equipment from other tanks if you have more then one. By using the same net from one tank to another you risk introducing ich and other parasites from a tank that may have been sick. Have a seperate net for each tank.

6. Use an ultraviolet steriliser to help kill ich parasites. As the free swimming ich parasites known as tomites gets killed as they pass through. This may be away to help prevent ich or white spot disease in a way but there is no sure way that all tomites have been killed or destroyed. May help prevent ich but not a 100% sure way to do so.

7. Use CopperSafe From Mardel Labs fish medication to help prevent ich from occuring. One treatment last over a month. It not only helps prevent against ich but velvet and other external parasites as well.

These are just some simple ways you can help reduce the risk, and prevent ich disease from infecting your fish. Preventative measures are the best way to prevent against ich or white spot disease. In case your fish have developed ich or white spots seek ich medication and begin treatment right away.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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5 replies on “Prevent Ich Fish Disease – How To Prevent Ich ( White Spot Disease)”

Hi, Jamie:

About two weeks ago, I bought an Aqueon 10-gallon aquarium kit and two small fantails. After doing a lot of reading, I decided to upgrade to a 37-gallon Marineland aquarium kit and use the 10-gallon as a hospital tank when needed.

I set up the 37-gallon aquarium three days ago, and since then one of my fantails has developed two white spots. I figure that this is ich, so I bought CopperSafe. I removed the carbon filter from the Aqueon filter that is in the 10-gallon tank, and I also treated the 37-gallon tank with CopperSafe in the last hour, even though the fish are still in the 10-gallon.

In the 37-gallon, I have a Marineland Bio Wheel 200 (rated for 50 gallons). I removed the carbon cartridge and the bio wheel before adding the CopperSafe. How long should I wait before returning the cartridge and the bio wheel. I read where the treatment lasts for one month, thus the reason I ask. I am also treating the 37-gallon aquarium with Kent Eco-Start. Should I hold off on adding more Eco-Start for a day or two?

One last thing. I was wondering if I should move the fish from the 10-gallon into the 37-gallon, even though one of the fish still have two white spots. Any guidance you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I am trying to learn as much as possible to make sure I give proper care to my new aquatic friends.

Thanks,

Jeff
Orlando, Fla.

I have a picture of a sick goldfish that I hope you could give me some advice about. Could I send you a picture?
Thanks
Sue

I have a new 10gal aquarium setup with two large (about 4 1/2 in. – nose to tail) fantail gold fish. and one Pleco.. They appear very healthy and are not exhibiting any symptoms of Ich – like hiding in the corner, having white spots, rubbing against plants, not eating, etc) but I noticed that both fish have what appears to be simply shiny scales. There are no white spots on the tails. Is it common for the fantails to have these shiny scales on them. They don’t look like a “disease” – just simply like shiny scales. Any input would be much appreciated. These belong to my grandchildren (the fishy’s live at Nanny’s house!!) and they would be very upset to loose them to illness. I can send a photo if necessary. As I said, they are acting perfectly normally. I put Stress Control in the tank when setting it up – should I add Ick Guard as a preventive. I’ve not done that -being afraid of removing the filter and causing cloudly water. What do I do? I guess my main concern is if the shiny scales are perfectly normal for these fish and perhaps I’m just looking for trouble where there is none. God Bless, Judy

From what you mentioned here Judy, your fantail goldfish are showing no signs of ick. If your goldfish had ich you would see the fish covered with what appears like small grains of salt all over the body and tail. This is also referred to as white spot disease.

The shiny scales is perfectly normal. There is nothing to worry about. Your fish are acting normal, eating and not scratching themselves on the bottom of the aquarium, then they’re fine. Hope you can relax now, your grandchildren’s goldfish are okay. It’s always best to ask questions in case.

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