Ich Sustained by Shrimp/Crabs

Eldredge · 10/14/2007, 09:56 PM

I recently read a post on here (can't find it now) that stated that "segmented vertebrates" like crabs (and shrimp?) can support the ich life cycle - contrary to former ideas. Can anyone comment on this and refer some articles for reading. If this is true, is there any way to make sure that crabs and shrimp don't have ich? Thanks for the help.

Eldredge · 10/15/2007, 07:29 AM

Does anyone know anything about this?

Eldredge · 10/15/2007, 08:51 AM

The reason I am asking this question is because I am setting up a system, and I would like to keep it totally ich free if that is possible. Do any of you have a system that you are confident is totally ich free? If so, how have you accomplished it? Thanks.

kevin2000 · 10/15/2007, 10:30 AM

Ich cannot survive without fish. However - when ich naturally falls off the fish (within a week) it then attaches itself to just about any surface (including crabs, live rock, coral etc) and will hatch more ich within the next month.

I purchase crabs/corals/live rock from vendors that keep them separately from fish .. helps guarantee that I won't be inadvertently transporting ich into the tank. Some will QT everything that goes into their tank to help insure an ich free tank.

If you keep fish out of the tank for about 5 weeks .. any ich that you may have inadvertently transported on live rock, corals, crabs, snails etc will naturally die off.

Here's a link which discusses the ich life cycle .. may help.
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

Eldredge · 10/15/2007, 03:39 PM

Kevin,

Thanks for the reply. I have been planning on doing exactly what you suggest, and hoped to avoid ich trouble. However, last week I read a post from someone that seemed knowledgeable that said it had been found that segmented invertebrates as well as fish could support the ich life cycle, and that this can lead to ich being a problem even when fish are quaranteened and treated (if segmented invertebrates are present in the display tank). I wish I would have marked the post. Has anyone else heard of this? Thanks again.

billsreef · 10/16/2007, 01:28 PM

Never heard of that, and find it doubtful based on the amount of research that has gone into our current understanding of Cryptocaryon irritans.

Eldredge · 10/16/2007, 03:10 PM

Billsreef, thanks for the input. This was contrary to my understanding too, but it caused me some concern because I don't want to go to the trouble of 2 months of quaranteen and find out I wasted my time. I guess if know one else offers some input I will hope that the current theories are accurate. Thanks again, and if anyone else has any thoughts, they would be appreciated.

10/14/2007, 09:56 PM	#1
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 312	Ich Sustained by Shrimp/Crabs I recently read a post on here (can't find it now) that stated that "segmented vertebrates" like crabs (and shrimp?) can support the ich life cycle - contrary to former ideas. Can anyone comment on this and refer some articles for reading. If this is true, is there any way to make sure that crabs and shrimp don't have ich? Thanks for the help.

10/16/2007, 01:28 PM	#6
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 33,306	Never heard of that, and find it doubtful based on the amount of research that has gone into our current understanding of Cryptocaryon irritans. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

10/15/2007, 07:29 AM	#2
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 312	Does anyone know anything about this?

10/15/2007, 08:51 AM	#3
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 312	The reason I am asking this question is because I am setting up a system, and I would like to keep it totally ich free if that is possible. Do any of you have a system that you are confident is totally ich free? If so, how have you accomplished it? Thanks.

10/15/2007, 10:30 AM	#4
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Ich cannot survive without fish. However - when ich naturally falls off the fish (within a week) it then attaches itself to just about any surface (including crabs, live rock, coral etc) and will hatch more ich within the next month. I purchase crabs/corals/live rock from vendors that keep them separately from fish .. helps guarantee that I won't be inadvertently transporting ich into the tank. Some will QT everything that goes into their tank to help insure an ich free tank. If you keep fish out of the tank for about 5 weeks .. any ich that you may have inadvertently transported on live rock, corals, crabs, snails etc will naturally die off. Here's a link which discusses the ich life cycle .. may help. http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

10/15/2007, 03:39 PM	#5
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 312	Kevin, Thanks for the reply. I have been planning on doing exactly what you suggest, and hoped to avoid ich trouble. However, last week I read a post from someone that seemed knowledgeable that said it had been found that segmented invertebrates as well as fish could support the ich life cycle, and that this can lead to ich being a problem even when fish are quaranteened and treated (if segmented invertebrates are present in the display tank). I wish I would have marked the post. Has anyone else heard of this? Thanks again.

10/16/2007, 03:10 PM	#7
Eldredge Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eagle, Idaho Posts: 312	Billsreef, thanks for the input. This was contrary to my understanding too, but it caused me some concern because I don't want to go to the trouble of 2 months of quaranteen and find out I wasted my time. I guess if know one else offers some input I will hope that the current theories are accurate. Thanks again, and if anyone else has any thoughts, they would be appreciated.