really need this question about ich answered??

[chicki1957]

Is it a for sure that ich can not just happen? Example is that I have 3 goldfish, for 2 years now. Nothing comes or goes from their tank. Last month I spotted a white dot on ones head. Treated for ich for the 5 day treatment and its totally gone???
Also if ich is a parasite then what does it have to do with stress?
thank so much in advance
Lynn

 

[beth]

Well, this is a marine hobby board not a FW, but one dot on a goldfish doesn't spell ick. All fish carry parasites. For the most part, parasites are kept under control by the fishes' own immune system, unless that immune system is compromised [via something like a stressful situation]
It basically works the same way for humans. Lets say that you've been working real hard, not sleeping enough and not eating properly. To top it off, you are going thru a bad divorce. You are stressed and you become more sceptical to colds, flu, etc. The same with any fish.

 

[chicki1957]

OK, but colds, flu's etc are all virus's, which can be influenced by stress factors. But say a parasite like e.g. ringworm... that is picked up by contact because it is a parasite, nothing to do with stress,right?
So basically what you are saying is that a tank that has the same fish for over say 2 months..that those fish can never get ich or parasitic infection without adding something to that tank from a foreign tank?
thanks Lynn