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White Spot is a stress related infection. Ich(White Spot ) is a common name for the parasite  Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and the disease that it causes. The white spot trophont  forms a nodule under the skin or gill epithelium.  Fish infected with Ich may have  white specks on their skin as though they were sprinkled with salt Ich is the largest known parasitic protozoan found on fishes. Adult organisms are oval to round and measure 0.5 to 1.0 mm in size. The adult is uniformly ciliated and contains a horseshoe-shaped nucleus which can be seen in older individuals. The skin of the fish may also look bumpy.  Mature forms of the parasite are large (up to 1 mm or 1/32 inch across) and can be seen without magnification. Ich often causes the fish to have large amounts of mucus sloughing off of their skin,  an appearance which may resemble fungus when viewed from a distance in the water. Many times, however, the only indication of IchÕs presence may be dead and dying fish. In some Ich cases the parasite may be present only on the gills and not on the skin.

In the early stages of the disease, fish are likely to flash and rub against objects because of the irritation. At a later, advanced stage they will become lethargic and spend most of their time sitting on the bottom. Life cycle of the Ich is a complex one, as by the time you see it on your fish it is already in the adult stages of its life. The general consensus is that Ich has a lifespan of about 10 to 14 days, while there are those in the science world that will go as far to say the lifespan will be as long as 20 days. Once the cyst settles in begins to multiply by dividing itself up to as many as 2,000 times. The result of this division produces what is called Tomites. The time frame for this division can vary. In a tank that is 77 degrees F, the tomites will only require about 12 hours to complete this stage as where in a tank of 50 degrees F it may require months to complete. After the formation of the tomites is complete, they emerge from the cyst as free swimming Theronts. At this stage of their life they are looking for new hosts to feed on. After falling off of the host, it becomes free swimming and will fall to the bottom of the tank or attach itself to rocks and decoration in the tank.

White Spot treatment Tips

 1. Free-swimming tomites are susceptible to chemical treatment. A single treatment will kill tomites which have emerged from cysts and have not yet burrowed into the skin of host fish.

2. An alternative treatment is prolonged salt immersion at 1-2  ppt (parts per thousand), i.e. 1-2 grams per litre

3. Water should be monitored during the treatment course in case there is any loss of filter activity.

4. It is also believed that fish that survive an attack of Ich have an increased immunity against future attacks

5. Water changes can help too at the first sign of out break.

6. Another thing that can be done to help with the treatment of ICH is adding salt to your tank. Most LFS carry aquarium salt and it serves in helping gill function and works as a general tonic to fish.

7. If used correctly, most of these meds have a high success rate, but keep in mind that they are strong treatments that will probably kill your plants (if you have planted tanks, remove fish and treat them separately).

8. Some recommend the addition of aquarium salt (NaCl salt, not to be confused with Marine salt, which contains buffers and should not be used on FW fish) at the concentration of 1 tablespoon per 20 liters with this treatment.

Filed under: Skin Disorders