Can ick in cyst form survive out of water ?

[anewbie]

So... i have a 'scratch' 120 and i added some new fishes (1.5 inch Orinocodoras eigenmanni) and the inhabitants that had been there for 18+ months came down with white spot disease (ick or similar); my question is when i use the python on the aquarium and then rinse it out and let it dry out till the next water change can the ick (or similar parasite) live in cyst form until the next usage (i.e, cross contamination) ?

 

[MacZ]

It takes just some small droplets for cross contamination. So this is definitely a problem. Also while nobody seems to have scientifically tested this, it is suspected that they can survive short amounts of time (a week) dried out.

 

[anewbie]

It takes just some small droplets for cross contamination. So this is definitely a problem. Also while nobody seems to have scientifically tested this, it is suspected that they can survive short amounts of time (a week) dried out.

ok thanks. There should be no drops of water since it drys out before the next set of water changes but if it can exist in cyst form on the plastic that of course that would be an issue. I guess i'll hunt down for my spare and then wait a few weeks of dry time before using this one on another aquarium.

 

[MacZ]

flush with alcohol or salt water additionally.

 

[anewbie]

flush with alcohol or salt water additionally.

Do you know if there has been any research on how ph impact these various parasite and if one in alkaline water is moved to acidic water if it has any impact ?

 

[MacZ]

pH usually has little to no effect, except we're talking extremes below 3 or above 10. Low conductivity has more impact but is usually only affecting bacteria and the like. Eukaryonts are rarely affected.

 

[Cichlacat]

ok thanks. There should be no drops of water since it drys out before the next set of water changes but if it can exist in cyst form on the plastic that of course that would be an issue. I guess i'll hunt down for my spare and then wait a few weeks of dry time before using this one on another aquarium.

Purchase a spray atomizer and fill it with hydrogen peroxide and give the suction tube a good spray in and out.
One other thought. If make sure you remove all the water from the hose you’re using. If water is left in the tubing and then you reverse the flow from the hose that water will flow into the next tank.
If that happens I’d guess the ick cross contamination would be more likely than the suction tube itself. But either event could happen.

It would be better to use a separate hose and bucket for the infected aquarium.

 

[Mike Wise]

Personally the best method to prevent ich contamination is to not let it into your tanks in the first place. I quarantine all my fish for a minimum of 4 weeks (but ususally 6+) in a separate bare quarantine tank.

 

[MacZ]

Additionally if it occurs during quarantine and medication is necessary a med with malachite green and formaldehyde would exterminate the parasite quite reliably, but only works during an outbreak because this method only targets active swarmers and the parasite stage on the fish. Encapsulated swarmers are excempt. So when quickly applied it can be completely removed from the fish bevor moving to the actual holding or display tanks.

 

[anewbie]

Additionally if it occurs during quarantine and medication is necessary a med with malachite green and formaldehyde would exterminate the parasite quite reliably, but only works during an outbreak because this method only targets active swarmers and the parasite stage on the fish. Encapsulated swarmers are excempt. So when quickly applied it can be completely removed from the fish bevor moving to the actual holding or display tanks.

I use kordon rid-ich plus which has formalin and malachite green and it seems to work well on all the white spot parasite - anyway it cleared up fast enough after 4 days (5 days of treatment) and everyone seems fine.


I was mostly curious if the ick would survive in cyst form for extended (4 weeks for example) period on a dry surface.

 

[anewbie]

Personally the best method to prevent ich contamination is to not let it into your tanks in the first place. I quarantine all my fish for a minimum of 4 weeks (but ususally 6+) in a separate bare quarantine tank.

Well everytime i have space for a 180 or 120 or similar for qt'ing i end up using it after a while - of course now i don't have much space left so i won't be getting another aquarium large or small - about the only space i left is for a 5 under one of the 29 but some fishes are just too large for 5....

On the bright side i'm vaguely thinking of moving to denver/boulder region though i doubt it will happen but if it does i'll have more space