| Ich Symptoms | | | | are free of disease. |
| Ichthyophthirius multifilis is the fish parasite | | | | Keep the stress of the goldfish low by choosing |
| popularly known as "ich" or "white spot." Ich is one | | | | similar goldfish breeds to be tank mates, have |
| of the most commonly diagnosed parasites that | | | | appropriately sized filters and air pumps for those |
| can affect a goldfish community. Observing the | | | | breeds and provide plenty of places to hide. |
| ich parasite on a mucus scrape from an infected | | | | Maintain optimal water parameters including: plenty |
| goldfish under a microscope can reveal the two | | | | of dissolved oxygen, pH around 7, water |
| life stages of ich. During the "swarmer" stage, Ich | | | | temperature around 70*F (21*C) and a healthy |
| is a highly active, free-swimming, teardrop-shaped | | | | functioning nitrogen cycle. |
| organism with a green or tan colored interior. The | | | | How to Treat Ich |
| sub-epithelial life stage shows a large, round | | | | |
| organism with fine cilia and a visible | | | | 1. Remove live aquatic plants. The treatment can |
| horseshoe-shaped nucleus. | | | | harm or kill live aquatic plants. |
| | | | 2. Preform a partial water change and achieve |
| The Causes of Ich | | | | optimal water parameters. |
| An infestation of ich in a goldfish tank often | | | | 3. Temporarily increase the water temperature to |
| occurs within the first week of introducing a new | | | | 75-80*F (24-27*C). This encourages the ich |
| goldfish that was not properly quarantined. If the | | | | parasite to speed up its life cycle. The |
| ich parasite is introduce into a goldfish tank via a | | | | sub-epithelial ich parasites will burst out of the skin |
| new goldfish, goldfish with healthy immune | | | | and fall to the bottom of the tank where |
| systems can often fight off an ich infection but | | | | thousands of new free-swimming parasites will |
| goldfish that have weak immune systems are | | | | search out a host. It is only during this swarmer |
| susceptible to an infection. A weak immune | | | | stage that ich can be treated. |
| system can be the result of a weakened | | | | 4. Add a .03% concentration of aquarium salt; one |
| protective slime coat caused by stress or from | | | | teaspoon per every gallon of water. Aquarium salt |
| an infection the goldfish is currently attempting to | | | | is readily available at local pet stores. It is |
| fighting off. | | | | important to treat the entire tank not only the |
| How to Prevent Ich | | | | infected goldfish. Avoid using a quarantine tank. |
| Many goldfish dealers will quarantine new | | | | 5. Over the next 24 hour repeat step 4, in 12 |
| shipments of goldfish they receive but it is not a | | | | hour increments for a total of three doses of |
| given these goldfish will be 100% free of disease. | | | | aquarium salt. (It is common for ich to get worse |
| It is best to err on the safe side, quarantine and | | | | before it starts to get better.) |
| isolate new goldfish for two to six weeks in a | | | | 6. Leave the aquarium salt in the treated goldfish |
| separate tank from the main goldfish tank. Some | | | | tank for two weeks then preform a 50-75% |
| fish stores offer in store quarantine of the | | | | water change. |
| goldfish purchased by their customers, for a fee. | | | | 7. Add a protective stress coat solution to |
| Whatever option is chosen, all new goldfish should | | | | encourage a healthy slime coat and immune |
| be observed for a period of time to ensure they | | | | system of the goldfish. |