How Long Do Fish Live After They Get Ich?

Ich Life Cycle

• The protozoan responsible for white spot disease has a pretty complicated life cycle. It requires host fish to survive more than a few days, but it takes only a few hosts to start a deadly outbreak. The free-floating protozoa attach themselves to the skin and gills of their unfortunate hosts. They spend 10 to 20 days crawling through their victim's flesh as they consume living tissue for sustenance, according to Purdue University Extension. Once they mature, they seek out an inanimate surface and hide themselves in a cocoon. They start procreating through division in this state and are impervious to chemical treatment throughout the process. One cocoon can yield dozens or hundreds of new protozoa, who surge forth to start the cycle over again.

Mortality Rate

• Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Ich is its ability to wipe out entire populations of fish in large tanks and natural bodies of water. If your aquarium is infected with the protozoa, your fish may start dying in as little as five days. The rate at which the host fish die is related to the number of active parasites in the tank, so the longer the infestation grows the faster the tank's occupants will perish. White spot disease has a 100 percent mortality rate in fish when left untreated, but intervention can save some of your tank's occupants if you act quickly. Neons and tetras are particularly sensitive to the Ich parasite, according to the website Pet Advantage.

Symptoms

• Recognizing the symptoms of white spot disease early on could be lifesaving for your fish. Fortunately this parasite is very large, large enough to be seen with the naked eye: characteristic white bumps appear on infected fish, first around the gills and later on the fins or tail. The spots are raised from the skin's surface, so you'll likely notice a texture difference, as if the fish had been sprinkled with coarse salt. As infestation worsens, your fish may rub up against the walls and structures inside the tank to scrape the parasite off. Fish nearing fatal injury may float along the bottom of the tank or start drifting aimlessly out of lethargy. Some fish may continue to worsen or die after the first few days of treatment, although their condition should improve after a week or two.

Infestation Management

• Call a local aquarium store or fish health specialist if you believe your tank is infested with Ich. If your fish can tolerate a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, heating your tank water is a great way to kill the parasite quickly. Increase tank temperature to 90 degrees for 24 hours, slowly lower it back down to normal and then repeat several days later, according to University of Florida IFAS Extension. If possible, keep the water temperature at about 77 degrees during chemical treatment. The protozoa complete their life cycle quickly at this temperature, which decreases the total amount of time needed to kill the entire population.

Chemical Treatment

• Chemical treatments are a common solution, since raising or lowering tank temperature by too much is often unsuitable for the occupants. Chemical treatments should be administered for 1 to 2 weeks, because protozoa within cocoons and attached to hosts are immune to them. Treating every other day over this time ensures that parasites in all stages of the life cycle are eradicated. Several products for treating white spot disease are currently on the market. Read the label on the product and consult with an expert before buying it, as certain products may not be appropriate for your fish and tank setup.