Ick Lifecycle

[ifirefight]

I have not yet got the answer to my question from a previous thread,so I will try another angle. I (well not me) have ICH. I have only added inverts and corals to the tank. No water from fish store,etc,etc,etc. I have the dates I added EVERY living creature to this set up. I have NOT added everything all at once,my list includes, snails,brain coral,ricorida,pepermint shrimps,blood shrimps. My question is...... I now SEE ich on my fish.. How long does it take for THAT (the white spots)to show up. If it takes X amount of weeks/days then I can figure out how I brought in into my tank. I know it doesnt matter now,but I would like to know none the less. I have set up a QT and plan to QT all additions.

 

[hogcr8]

I purchased an Emporer 10 days ago. Placed him in a QT and within 3 days he was covered. He showed no signs at the LFS. That's about all I can tell you.........

 

[95harley]

I think I read it lives on fish as white spots and drops off fish when mature to spread. At that pointit attaches itself to other fish.
I thought I read somewhere that it has a total lifespan of 6 weeks once it drops off fish, but don't hold me to it.

 

[beth]

There is not a specific date because they are individual parasites, not 1 parasite, that may be in in a different stage at different times. I'd say that within 14 days, you'll know one way or the other.

 

[nicetry]

Assuming you imported tomonts (the reproductive stage) into your tank, they can take anywhere from 3-28 days to hatch. Once they hatch and the free swimming theront phase is present, these have only a day or two to attach to a host fish or they die off. Once the theronts attach to the fish, they embed themselves in the outer tissue and begin feeding. This is when you see the white cysts. This takes a few days. One of the biggest problems with this disease is that the tomont phase can be fairly broad, that is to say some develop slower than others and reproduce at different times, so the free swimming theronts can be present on a consistant basis.
Hope this answered your question.

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by nicetry
Assuming you imported tomonts (the reproductive stage) into your tank, they can take anywhere from 3-28 days to hatch. Once they hatch and the free swimming theront phase is present, these have only a day or two to attach to a host fish or they die off. Once the theronts attach to the fish, they embed themselves in the outer tissue and begin feeding. This is when you see the white cysts. This takes a few days. One of the biggest problems with this disease is that the tomont phase can be fairly broad, that is to say some develop slower than others and reproduce at different times, so the free swimming theronts can be present on a consistant basis.
Hope this answered your question.
3-28 days,Yes,thanks,..........IF they can only last a "day or two" if I QT my new inverts,corals etc a few days ...would that be sufficient????????? Thanks

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by Beth
There is not a specific date because they are individual parasites, not 1 parasite, that may be in in a different stage at different times. I'd say that within 14 days, you'll know one way or the other.
OK thanks Beth.. I think I have it narrowed down.

 

[beth]

To be honest, I just take care of where my inverts come from and don't QT inverts. If they are coming from an all invert tank that does not share filters with fish, then they shouldn't be exposed to ich. Still, I suppose there is always some risk with that.
Hard shelled inverts are the only ones you really need to be concerned with, and hard corals or corals mounted on rocks. Obviously most corals can't be QTed for month, unless you have a high output lighting setup for your QT. And speaking of rocks, live rock can be susceptible as well.