why do my fish get white spots?

Question

i would like to know why my fish die after a couple of days when white spots appear on their bodys

Answer 1

Ick (contrary to all the other answers) is not a fungus or a disease caused by stress. Ick is a parasite that preys on stressed or weak fish. Ick must be introduced to the tank (either in water, on fish, or on plants), so quarantine tanks are essential to prevent Ick outbreaks in your main tank. To treat Ick, turn the water to about 83-85 degrees, and add 1-2 cups of UNIODIZED salt per 10 gallons of water. It will take time for the Ick to go through its life cycle, and die. The heat speeds up the parasites life cycle, causing it to drop off the fish, where the salt can (and does) kill it. Slowly dissolve the salt into the water (don't just dump it in all at once). Continue this treatment for AT LEAST 2 weeks, and you will soon have healthy fish again. In the meantime, do twice weekly water changes to lessen the stress from ammonia and other toxic compounds (be sure there is always 1-2 cups of dissolved salt per 10 gallons in the tank). Email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: Sunlight will do nothing to kill the Ick parasite. That is what the salt is for. You don't need to dismantle the entire tank either, just keep the water clean, warm, and salted.

Answer 2

I was told years ago by an old guy in a pet shop that the cure for white spot prior to chemical medication was to turn the temperature of the water up in the tank a couple of degrees.

The fish will be able to tolerate the warmer temperature, but the heat will kill the white spot. I tried it and it worked every time!

I am presuming you have tropical fish as I did, this won't work in a cold water aquarium.

Answer 3

as everyone else has said, you have ich in your tank, a little parasite that will eventually drain your fill and kill them if not iradicated. as for how it got there, it can be several things, so is unlikly to actually be anything that you yourself have done. ich is usually brough into the tank in 2 ways. 1 by live plants, the eggs or parasites will be attached to the plants then when youput them in your tank they attach themselves to the nearest host, or the other way is by already contaminated fish being introduced. it is usually one of these ways that ich is transfered into a tank. which is why people normally have an isolation tank that they place the plants / new fish in, for a few weeks on their own, to try and ensure they are clear. just go get some whitespot treatment, that should clear it right up as long as it isnt already too far advanced. you will need to treat several times (as per the instructions on the bottle) good luck :)

Answer 4

"white spot" is a disease caused mainly by stress. do a 50% water change using a gravel cleaner and then add treatment leave for a few days then do another 50% water change.Do not add any more fish or weeds untill it has completely cleared up if problem persists then remove all weeds and replenish with new ones. Be sure that the fish are not subjected to unecessery stress

Answer 5

This is a fungul infection common to fish. It is called White Spot. You need to clean out the tank and put new water in there. Also use a dechlorinator. You can buy liquid drops to put in the water that will prevent White Spot fungus. It can be purchased in all pet stores.

Answer 6

white spot is a fungus that is growing on your fish
it is mainly caused by stress or sudden changes in temperature

you can get treatment for it go to pet shop or aquarium they will give advice and tell you best course of treatment

dont get anymore fish till you resolved this issue else they will more than likely go the same way

try this link www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1839.asp

Answer 7

This is called ICK. You have to treat the fish for the disease. It is caused by stress to the fish. I have found it difficult to cure, but have been successful. Treatments are available at local pet stores. Good Luck.

Answer 8

its ick. ick is a disease that spreads from one to the other. you can cure it by raising the temperature in your tank, adding aquarium salt, and using quick cure (medicine), and you have to clean the whole tank: gravel, inside glass, filter,heater, and the tank anything else you have in there. and put it in sunlight outside.