Goldfish Ick

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If you have taken care of the water quality of your fish tank, then your goldfish getting ich is not your fault. It just happens. We will clear up what ich is and how to take care of it.

Goldfish Ick is also known as gold fish ich, ichthyophthiriasis, or white spot. It is a protozoan parasite that infects goldfish. In particular it is the parasite Ichthyophthirius. This parasite affects all freshwater fish. Ick does not just affect goldfish, but also Betta fish, discus fish, and nearly all tropical aquarium.

The parasites like these are almost always present in fish ponds, tanks or aquariums. poor water quality, stress or weakened immune system may increase the likelihood of a goldfish development of the parasite.

Of all the pests that can get the gold fish, ick is the most common. Anyone who has kept fish for a long period of time to respond to these parasites.

Ick symptoms

- Symptoms includeanorexia (loss of weight), rapid breathing (parasite in gills), hiding abnormally, resting on the bottom,

flashing, and rubbing or scratching against objects.

Ick Signs
- Skin may have white spots on it. These may grow to a full 1 millimeter across.
- Fins are folded and show white spots.
- Eyes may appear cloudy or milky.
- Gill infection will cause rapid breathing. Fish may also breathe at surface.

Ick is a cause of extreme irritation to goldfish and if untreated, kills goldfish ick. As is common, however, there are plenty of remedies available in any good pet shop or veterinary medicine.

Ick can be easily treated in your tropical aquarium. A visit to pet shops to one of the common chemicals such as formalin, malachite green, copper sulphate obtained, and many others will be your first line of defense.

Another remedy involves the addition of salt in the tank enough to be toxic to the parasites, but not enough tobe toxic to the fish. The problem is that other tropical fish are more sensitive to salt and may be harmed by it. In a fish pond, salt just is not a good solution in that it would take a lot of salt to work.

Another cure is to raise the temperature of the tank above the range that the ich parasite can tolerate. But again, some other fish may find this temperature lethal.