- Joined
- Feb 6, 2020
- Messages
- 347
- Reaction score
- 1,144
Part 1: Yes, my experience suggests you are correct in that parasites don't always overwhelm all occupants at the same time. Most of these fish lived for 3+ years with some level of Ich in the system for certain. Not sure why my luck is running out now, but it seems to be so. Gradually.
Part 2: I agree parasite free is possible. Unnatural, but possible. And I can envision doing this with fish only. However I cannot imagine this in practise when it comes to every rock, frag, invert, colony that passes between my two systems and others. I have a coral QT of sorts that has worked but takes only a few weeks. 70+ days for every piece is a whole different game I do not have the bandwidth for given other commitments.
Purity is beyond my resources. Maintaining fish nutrition: Check. Maintaining water stability: Check. Avoiding fish aggression: uhhh... B-. Implementing UV to reduce parasite population: soon to Check.
So far, I have one suggestion that the parasite is Brook, but no others. I know what Ich looks like and have not seen it in years in this tank (although it should still be there as there was never a fallow period after I saw it).
When it takes a fish it is really really fast. But a month or more goes by before the next fish is gone. What parasite behaves this way?
I do appreciate all your input.
Tbh I think we only treat for parasites that burst out through skin and look disgusting and terrify human beings, I don't really think we know much about what is inside the fishes if they do not burst out but I think my point about that is: as long as new specimens are supposed to be added, some immunity is preferred over none.
If you know you want three fishes to live and die in a tank and NOTHING else is going to be added, keeping those three fishes free of everything we usually encounter in this hobby, is a heck of a lot easier than if you want to add something later on.
But do look into problem blennies, just to make sure that you don't miss an angle on the problem that might end up being the explanation on why a fish here and there keeps dying.
And good luck with everything
Last edited: