Can ich kill without visable signs

Stile2 · #1 05/10/2006, 08:40 PM

hello everyone,

I had a Kole Tang die recently. He had been eating and had been in my tank about a week and a half.

About a week after his death, my Citrus Goby came down with ich. Obviously the tang could have had ich, but the question would be could he have died of ich without any symptoms, or outward signs?

Thanks

Keith

PS. Water params were all good.

Pinksteel · #2 05/11/2006, 09:44 AM

I would imagine thats its possible because the first part of a fish that ich attatches itself to is inside the gills, and in my experince it can go unnoticed for up tp a week.

Sk8r · #3 05/11/2006, 10:59 AM

I agree. I'd suggest if you've had ich in the tank that you start feeding your surviving sinking pellets with Garlic (Formula One) as a general tonic---it may not cure it, but it seems to help.

Stile2 · #4 05/11/2006, 12:19 PM

Thanks guys,

I am taking out the goby this weekend and treating him in a QT tank, but is there any way to treat the tank (without copper) that won't kill bacteria and everything else?

Thanks again,
Keith

Pinksteel · #5 05/11/2006, 09:03 PM

I like the use of garlic to cure ich as well, I've been using a liquid garlic extract called kyolic found at health food stores. The trick is that you need to use it consistently, and continue treatment even for a while after theres no more visible ich.

Stile2 · #6 05/11/2006, 10:13 PM

Thanks

kevin2000 · #7 05/12/2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stile2
but the question would be could he have died of ich without any symptoms, or outward signs?

I think thats unlikely. Ich may be difficult to spot in its early stages but most fish die from ich because the infestation spreads to the point it overcomes the fish. When ich spreads it becomes pretty noticable.

With that said ... I have no doubt that if your fish was already "weakened" a minor case of ich might be enough to kill the fish.

In short ... I suspect your problem is someting other than ich.

emperora · #8 05/13/2006, 08:50 AM

secondary infection caused by ich will also kill your fish

Cprowler · #9 05/14/2006, 11:18 AM

What else could it be and is there precautions we could take. I soak food in kents garlic most of the time but I think I will every time, anything else?

kevin2000 · #10 05/14/2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cprowler
What else could it be and is there precautions we could take. I soak food in kents garlic most of the time but I think I will every time, anything else?

Fish die all the time without obvious external signs .. the diagnosis is often unclear. In many cases fish die of simple stress associated with capture, transportation, acclimation and a whole host of associated reasons. Here's an old article on the benefits of Qting .. what make this article noteworthy is the discussion about the importance of acclimating a "wild" fish to its new "captured" fish environment .. worth a look.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

Hope this helps.