Ick Disease: Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

Some of my fish contracted Ick disease I think, because my fish have white salt grain size spots on their fins and body. But they don't seem affected by the spots, no rubbing against rocks, nothing. Recently, I treated the tank with medication, called Super Ick Plus. It came in a vile and I put the appropriate amount of drops in the tank. How long does should it take before I should consider new medication or another dosage? What medication works the best and where can you buy it, does it rid Ick disease from the tank ?

Treatment of Freshwater Ich, Ichthyophthirius.

It is believed that ich is present in all aquariums. Fish that have the disease exhibit small white dots about this size of a grain of salt. It is very contagious and it is fatal.

The best protection is a healthy tank with water changes done weekly or every other week with a gravel vac in the amount of 20-25% of the tank volume. Ich thrives in temperatures between 55-70掳, making gold fish extremely vulnerable. Heating a tank to 72-73掳 is not too warm for gold fish and the susceptibility to ich will be dramatically reduced. A sound practice in fish keeping is to keep new fish in quarantine 4-7 days before adding them to your tank. The stress from being shipped from the wholesaler to the retailer, the stress of living in the retailers tanks which may be overcrowded and poorly maintained and the stress of being bagged up and taken to your home can weaken a fish and make it most vulnerable to ich and other ailments. Rather than introduce a sick fish to your aquarium, it is better to quarantine it until you know it is healthy.