Virulent form of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

[Mad Duff]

Thought I would add this after reading this thread http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=16755

Unfortunately I have witnessed this virulent form of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis first hand and watching a 250 gallon tank get wiped out over a period of a few days and no treatment making any difference what so ever is heartbreaking.

Originally I just thought it was a case of standard white spot but it soon became apparent that it was more than this and the fact that on day 1 fish had a few spots, by day 3 fins were becoming shredded, red ulcerated patches appearing and grey film covering body and by day 5 every fish affected was dead regardless of treatment.

Here are a few pics:

[chefkeith]

Oh no, my hearth is bleeding for you. Sorry to hear that this is happening again.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what is your quarantine procedure for new fish?

My only advise is that for new fish, you might want to consider doing a series of prophylactic treatments for the most common parasites, like ich, while the new fish are in quarantine.

With large community tanks you really can't take any chances.

[Mad Duff]

This isn't happening again, if it did I think I would pack it all in after a second bout of this

I have UV's running now and I am even more selective in the fish I buy now, the sad party is that when this outbreak happened quarantine wouldn't have made a difference because the carrier which was a kissing gourami had been in one of my other tanks for nearly 3 years

I just thought after seeing the other thread it may be worth adding some photo's to show how rapidly it spreads and kills.

[Sly]

hey i am going through the same exact thing i noticed it today it sucks man im using super ick cure by api what are u using

[Diana]

Sly, there are at least 2 types of Ich in the aquarium hobby.
The more common Ich has been known for many years, and can be killed by many different treatments, just pick the one that is safest for the fish involved.
Quarantining new fish is the best way to prevent the main tank from becoming infested, and is easier to treat.

The Super Ich that Mad Duff is showing us is something relatively new. (I heard about it 3-4 years ago) Starts out looking like Ich, but does not respond to any of the common treatments, is resistant to heat at any temperature that does not also kill the fish. Apparently someone, somewhere did have some success in treating it with quite a nasty cocktail of medicines. I would Google Super Ich and see if that leads to more information.

The carrier had been in the tank for 3 years? And the Super Ich showed up after 3 years? Or had something else changed that might have brought it in?

[chefkeith]

This isn't happening again, if it did I think I would pack it all in after a second bout of this

Thank goodness. I thought this was just happening now. What a relief.

[jwyfk]

I am so sorry for your loss. I'd be incredibly depressed after losing an entire tank of fish.

[piggy4]

I had somthing similar rescently , I did eventually manage to treat it but did have some losses , personally I used Velvet cures , it looks like a sort of velvet whitespot and slime combined thing

[milalic]

I had somthing similar rescently , I did eventually manage to treat it but did have some losses , personally I used Velvet cures , it looks like a sort of velvet whitespot and slime combined thing

I have been searching for this in google to see how It can be cured and nothing. If anyone knows let me know.

Thanks

[mickthefish]

i know piggy4 well and we both got this mystery disease at roughly the same time, as to what it is ?, someone needs if a fish is infected to send the fish to the appropriate place.
Andy found the cure that helped our fish or the majority of our fish.
it was interpet 7, anti slime and velvet cure.

mick