white spot

[Peg]

Could someone please tell me what white spot is? How to treat it and with what? What is the best way to know if your fish has it? Any info would be appreciated.
THX

[Jackie Ramo]

White spot I believe is called Ich. Quite common in tank fish and pond fish. Usually caused by too much debris in the water or bad water quality IMO. I have a tank of 4 koi that have had it off and on all winter... yes, its true I am a bad fish mom.

Salt and clean water are the best cures. Looks like the fish has been sprinkled with salt.

[Terri]

White Spot is also known as ICH (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis). There are a few life stages to ICH so a system wide treatment is essential. First stage we SEE (white spots) - they are protected from treatments, the protozoan cells are buried in the epidermal cells of the fish where they feed on body fluids and cells. Once mature they punch out of the skin and fall away to settle and form into a cyst inwhich they begin to divid, producting thousands more. At this stage again they are immune to treatments. Here's where WE get 'em... the 'free swimming' stage. Once the cyst 'hatches' the tiny buggers need to find a fish host rather quickly (about 24 hrs) or they perish. This life cycle is temperature dependant, the cooler the water the longer the cycle, at temps around 78 - 80F the life cycle is about 3 days. Salt is quite effective against ICH, most recemended dose is 0.3% held over 14 days. I've used less with success. Formalin + Malachite Green is also an effective treatment - in repeated doses.

Infested fish look like they are covered in granular salt, white spots present on the skin, fins, and gills. Fish flash often, and hang near water returns at the surface. Heavily infested fish become very lethargic, stop feeding, show discolouration, and eventually die if not treated.

It's important to keep the pond quite clean, any litter accumilation is a harbour for ICH (and other nasties). During treatment it is a good idea to vac the pond bottom and flush the filters a few times,... this will lessen the number of cysts.
Never had a koi with ICH but goldfish and tropicals plenty. You can not always see ICH on koi... not sure why?

[Terri]

Jackie Types faster than me... :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

:grin: Yes and shorter sentences as well.

[Peg]

Thanks Terri And Jackie

Did not know white spot and ick were one and the same. Has been good here so far as we have not had any this year.

[Jackie Ramo]

Welcome. Glad you don't have the problem. I do... darn stuff is hard to get rid off if you miss a day....