How to treat White Spot in aquarium fish
What does it look like?
- Sugar grain size spots on surface
- White spots on skin
What are the fish doing?
- Acting irritable - 'scratching', jumping, twitching, shimmying
- Breathing at the water's surface
- Flicking against objects
- Gasping, rapid gill movement
What should I do?
- Treat using Anti White Spot
- Support fish with Aquilibrium salt to aid their immune system
- Test for water quality problems and treat accordingly
- Fish gills can be infected making breathing difficult and most treatments can also reduce the oxygen level in the tank so look out for fish gasping and consider adding extra aeration
Why does this happen and how do I prevent it?
Often referred to as Itch or Ick, White spot is caused by the Ichyophirius parasite. Parasites are naturally present in aquariums and will be happily controlled by the immune system of your fish in small numbers. As stress factors in the tank weaken the fish, parasites can reach dangerous numbers and will become harmful to their fish hosts.
Controlling stress factors is key to preventing outbreaks and the recovery of your fish.
The white spots you see on the fish is the mature stage of the parasites life cycle and will not be directly affected by treatment. White spot treatments require two doses to catch the parasites at their most delicate stage. After the parasites have stopped feeding from the fish they will drop and begin to duplicate in a cyst on the bottom of the tank. When the cyst bursts the new parasites will swim through the water to find a fish to feed from, the time when they are swimming is the time the treatment will attack.
Key areas to consider and regularly monitor to prevent future outbreaks and aid recovery:
- maintain good water quality
- test your water regularly
- complete routine maintenance
- consider quarantine if introducing new fish to an established tank
What treatment should I use?
Anti White Spot
Use with any of the above
Aqualibrium First Aid Salt Additive
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