What Are the Treatments for Ich in a Freshwater Aquarium?

Ich, or ichthyophthiriasis, is a fish disease that results in the presence of white spots on the skin, gills and fins. Ich is caused by the presence of a protozoan, or amoeba-like organisms called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, which may be present in a freshwater aquarium even if fish appear to be unaffected. Ich most often affects fish that are old or have a compromised immune system. The disease can be treated in several ways, it's better to prevent the disease before it occurs.

  1. Medicated Treatments for Ich

    • There are a number of medicated treatments for ich, which can be purchased at your local pet store or the pet section of most department stores. Common name-brand ich medications include Coppersafe, Quick-Cure, Ich-Ease, Aquari-sol, Cure-Ick and Super Ick Cure. These ich medications are composed of formalin (a formaldehyde solution), copper, methylene blue, potassium permanganate, malachite green, quinine, hydrochloride or sodium chloride. Ich treatments are designed to end the life cycle of Ichthyophthirius in the fish tank, rather than treat the affected fish, so it is advisable to remove all fish from the aquarium and hold the affected fish in quarantine during treatment.

    Changing the Aquarium Temperature

    • In addition to medicated ich treatments, the disease can be treated by raising the temperature of the aquarium to 85 degrees Fahrenheit over a period of several days. This treatment is designed to prevent reproduction of the Ichthyophthirius protozoan. Freshwater aquarium owners should take care not to raise the temperature of the aquarium too quickly, though, as doing so may harm or kill the fish. Ideal aquarium temperatures vary depending on fish species.

    Sodium Chloride Treatment

    • Adding sodium chloride (table salt) to the aquarium water can also be an effective ich treatment. Fish owners should be careful when adding sodium chloride to an aquarium, as different fish species have unique osmoregulatory requirements and may not tolerate salt well. Because of this, it is necessary to research the salt tolerance of your fish before trying this method. Typically, 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water should be added to the aquarium to treat ich.

    Preventing Ich

    • Preventive treatment of ich is far more effective than treating the disease after it has been recognized. Ways to prevent ich include only buying healthy fish, not buying fish from ich-infected tanks, avoiding aquatic plants that have been kept with fish, buying fish from stores to prevent shipping stress, quarantining potentially infected fish, avoiding fluctuations in water temperature and chemistry, not overcrowding an aquarium, keeping the water clean and feeding properly stored food. Ich can also be prevented by reducing undue stress to your fish, which can compromise their immune response to infection.