How Do You Cure Freshwater Ick?
Ichthyophthirius (Ick) is a protozoan parasite that attacks freshwater fish. Ick has three distinct life cycles: the trophont, tomont and the theront stages. During the trophont stage small white spots appear on the tail, fins and body of the affected fish. During the tomont stage, the parasites drop off the fish onto the aquarium floor and form cysts. When the cysts break open, free-swimming parasites are released; this is the theront stage. These newly hatched parasites attach themselves to fish in the aquarium and the process begins again. Although these parasites are dangerous to your fish, treatment is highly successful. Clean the gravel in your aquarium with a gravel vacuum to remove the cysts that are present on the aquarium floor. A gravel vacuum is usually a 2-inch diameter hose and should be long enough to reach from the aquarium gravel to a bucket placed on the floor beside your aquarium. Some gravel vacuums come with a priming ball to get the siphon started. If yours does n
