Ichthyophthirius or as commonly known white spot = ich?

Question

I've only been on yahoo answers for a few days, generally nothing else to do while im working. I've noticed that a few people out there are under the impression that ich and white spot are 2 different things, is this just mistaken identity or has the U.S. industry some how given a new disease the same title as the U.K. has for white spot?

I'm really aggrieved over losing 5pts for asking this question (tongue in cheek)

Answer 1

The only differences here are the countries involved (US likes to call the condition "ich" or "marine ich" (or "ick") while all the UK sources I read use "white spot". There are also two organisms involved, Ichthyophthirius multifilis in freshwater and Cryptocaryon irritans in saltwater. I've also seen speculation over a possible third organism in cases of freshwater ich that's highly resistant to treatment (by the UK's Practical Fishkeeping, among other sources), although it's not conclusive if this is a separate organism or just a resistant strain of one of the known parasites.

But you're correct - this is just confusion over the terminology used by different people (whether it be by country of origin or knowledge/experience in the hobby). But you'll have to admit - there are a number of things that can be responsible for "white spots" on a fish! (even genetics)

If you look at enough answers, you'll even see that ich is "caused" by everything from water changes (or lack thereof) and cold temperatures, and that it lives in aquaria without a host and treated tapwater. It's only caused when one of the two (three?) parasites are present and attach to your fish!

Answer 2

White spot disease is caused by Tetrahymina

Oodinium (Piscinoodinium) is velvet

Brooklynella is another type of saltwater but can also be found in fresh water and is resistant to salt treatments

Costia or lchthyobodo necatrix is known as cotton

Cryptocaryon is the marine version of ich
There are many types of parasites which are classified as "ich" or a type there of and are treated as each specifically treated. There are a number more. White spot is just one form of ich since these parasites are all basically the same.

White spot is not treated with the same medication as the marine counter parts or Oodinium.

All in all the same family just treated differently.

Answer 3

No, you are exactly right that ich, white spot and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis are three names for the same parasite. ONLY Ichthyophthirius multifiliis causes ich, nothing else. Period. I think the confusion lies in the two different common names and there use in different parts of the country and by the uneducated to describe parasites that are not ich. Personally, I don't like or use the term white spot disease because there are several parasites in both freshwater and saltwater environments that can cause white spots on a fish, but of course these are not ich at all, just similar organisms that confuse those that don't know the difference. Nothing new has been created, just different people using different terms I think.

And ditto to G about uneducated guesses by uneducated guessers.

MM

Answer 4

many people on yahoo answers say every fish disease is ich. just because someone answers a question doesn't make them a professional or even an educated guesser. as far as i know ich and white spot are the same thing.