What is an ich?

Question

I bought a guppy fish today - orange and white tail... as I examined closely, it could be the tail is loosing its color. It's head - looks as if there is a white lump...not too sure because the tank is a bit turbid due to cycling I suppose.

By raising the water temp - will other fishes that don't have the disease suffer due toe extreme heat?

Answer 1

The disease you describe is not ich, which is a parasite that has a salt like appearance on the fish, especially on the fins and gills (usually the more permeable tissue). Please see this in depth article about ich:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Ich.html

What you are describing is more likely columnaris (a gram negative bacterial infection) or a true fungus is also possible.

This is a disease of opportunity and poor water conditions including an un cycled aquarium makes cure very difficult, even with the right meds.

Here are the water p[arameters you want to achive with guppies:
*Ammonia/nitrites- 0
*Nitrates- under 40 ppm
* KH - 100 ppm
*GH- 150 + ppm (this is very important for important electrolytes and is often low where RO or drinking water is used vs. treated tap water or well water)
* a tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons is also important

Treatment is best achived with Kanamycin ( http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html ) or a combination of Kanamycin with Nitrofurazone.
Pimafix can work in mild cases with good tank conditions.

Please read this article for much more information about Columnaris:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Columnaris.html

Answer 2

Disease Type: Parasitic
Organism: Ichthyophthirius multifilis

Names: Ich, White Spot

Description: The name translates to "fish louse with many children", a title that fits well, as each parasite may produce over a thousand offspring. Although the disease is the equivalent of a skin infection, it can easily be fatal to a fish stressed by poor diet or habitat.
Symptoms:
Small white spots resembling sand

Fish scratch against rocks and gravel

In advanced stages fish become lethargic

Redness or bloody streaks in advanced stages

Infected fish are covered to various degrees with small white spots. Severe infestations are easy to spot, but small occurrences often go unnoticed. However, ich won't remain unnoticed for long. Like a bad penny, it will be back with a vengeance into the skin of its victim, feeding on blood and dead epithelial cells. The irritation caused by the burrowing parasite causes the skin of the fish to swell and produce white cysts seen as a small spots. The fish feels as if it's been bitten by a mosquito. It's not unusual to see infected fish scratching against rocks and gravel in an effort to get relief.
After several days of feasting, the engorged parasite develops into a trophozoite, burrows out of the fish and sinks bottom of the tank. Secreting a soft jellylike substance, it forms a protective membrane inside of which it divides into hundreds of baby parasites, known as tomites. The hungry tomites soon leave their home in search of a fresh fish to dine upon.
It is during the free-swimming stage, which lasts a mere three days, that the parasite is vulnerable to medication. Once it has burrowed into a new host fish it is safely protected from chemicals in the water.
Treatment:
Raise water temperature

Medicate for 10-14 days

Reduce medication when treating scaleless fish

Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment

Perform water changes between treatments

The entire cycle takes about two weeks from start to finish. Higher temps will shorten the cycle, while low temps lengthen it. Therefore, raising the water temp shortens the time it takes for the parasite to reach the stage in which it is susceptible to medication.
Treatments must be given for a long enough period to assure that all parasites are gone. Watch carefully for other infections, as secondary infections often occur where the skin has been damaged by the parasite.

Although nothing kills the parasite once it has checked into it's fish "hotel", several chemicals kill ich once it has left the fish. Malachite green, methylene blue, quinine hydrochloride, and mepracrine hydrochloride are all effective, and are available under several brand names.
Dose based on the package instructions, however cut dosages in half when treating scaleless catfish and tetras. Regardless of the medication used, treatment should be given continuously for 10-14 days to ensure all parasites are killed. Between treatments a partial water change is recommended. Keep water temperatures higher than usual to speed up the life cycle of the parasite. Discontinue carbon filtration during treatment, as it will remove the chemicals.
Prevention:
Quarantine new fish for two weeks

Treat plants before adding to tank

Maintain high water quality

Provide fish with a nutritionally balanced diet

The best way to avoid ich is to quarantine all new fish in a separate tank for two weeks before moving them to the regular tank. When quarantine is not possible, a prophylactic treatment may be used. Either methylene blue or malachite green given when new fish are introduced and again four days later will help reduce incidence of infection. New plants should also be treated, as they can carry ich cysts.

Maintaining high water quality, avoiding temperature fluctuations,and providing a robust diet is the best preventative for ich and other diseases.

Answer 3

I would guess it's some fungus. It can be caused by damages to their mucus, unclean water, and abrupt water changes(they damage the fish's mucus as well. Some breeders use antibiotics which reduces the strength of the immune system. Be careful to have the right environmental factors, such as Ph, temperature, etc. Also, be careful to have clean water. Don't change to much of the water too often though.
Here is a link to a site with info on:
fungus: http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/fungus.htm
White spot: http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/whitespot.htm

Answer 4

ich is a fish disease cause by protozoan in the water. What you're describing doesn't sound like ich. Ich makes a fish look like it has grains of salt on it.

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Misc%20What%20is%20Ich.htm

Answer 5

It's a fungus that grows on fish. It can kill them, but it is treatable. Go back to the pet store and tell them about it. They should have the medicine available there. Just follow the directions, it works well.