Snowflake Eel

JByrd · 11/23/2006, 10:55 AM

OK here a good question, I had ick in my tank 4 months ago killed everything except my scooter blenny and snowflake eel.(rookie mistake no Q.T. got one now). Could it be possible that the ick could still be in my tank feeding on the scooter and eel?

michaeldaly · 11/23/2006, 11:09 AM

Have you treated your tank with any medication?

coker98 · 11/23/2006, 11:44 AM

the uv may kill large amounts of it. and scooters dont really get ich. they have adapted an extra thick slime coat for being able to live on the sand and hunt for food. it is possible for it to be in there still so you should treat your fish in the qt tank for four to six weeks.

JByrd · 11/23/2006, 04:44 PM

I plan on Q.T.ing any new fish that I add now even after having just the scooter and an eel in the main tank for 4 months with no sings of ick. I just wanted to now if an eel can get ick along with the scooter

billsreef · 11/23/2006, 05:36 PM

Both the scooter and the eel tend to be resistant to ich, however, that means that yes they can get it and carry it.

rkelman · 11/23/2006, 06:34 PM

Can get/carry ich yes. Likely.. no...

hatfielj · 11/23/2006, 06:48 PM

In answer to your question: "Could it be possible that the ick could still be in my tank feeding on the scooter and eel? "
YES, ich is a parasite that has a life cycle in which it spends some of the time in the gravel, some of the time free swimming in the water and the rest of the time attached to fish. If you've never treated your tank for ich its possible that there are still organisms living in your tank. However, I don't know if blennies or eels have any special resistance to ich ( I highly doubt it). But, generally fish only get ich when they are stressed and they lose some of their natural ability to resist infection (the 'slime' coating on their skin is one way they avoid infection). SO, as long as your eel and blenny are currently doing well and you don't do anything to stress them out they will probably remain free of infection. I don't think the ich is "feeding" on your fish otherwise they would actually have ich. If there are parasites still in your tank they are probably lying dormant in your gravel. If its been four months and your fish are not sick yet and you don't do anything to stress them out I'm sure they will remain in good health. Just be careful when adding new fish. Those will be the fish more likely to get ich because they are under so much stress from being taken from the ocean, shipped all over the country in a plastic bag and then being thrown in an aquarium. Some fish are more likely to get ich because they simply have less tolerance of stressful events. The QT will help in allowing them time to adjust before being introduced to your main tank and also to prevent any new infections they might be carrying from spreading to your main tank.

11/23/2006, 10:55 AM	#1
JByrd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fulton, IL Posts: 188	Snowflake Eel OK here a good question, I had ick in my tank 4 months ago killed everything except my scooter blenny and snowflake eel.(rookie mistake no Q.T. got one now). Could it be possible that the ick could still be in my tank feeding on the scooter and eel?

11/23/2006, 04:44 PM	#4
JByrd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Fulton, IL Posts: 188	I plan on Q.T.ing any new fish that I add now even after having just the scooter and an eel in the main tank for 4 months with no sings of ick. I just wanted to now if an eel can get ick along with the scooter __________________ See my 125, Click the RED House!! Current Tank Info: 125gal. Reef, 30 gal. Fuge., Coralife Protien Skimmer, 40watt UV, Current Orbit 3x150 watt Halide Fixture.

11/23/2006, 05:36 PM	#5
billsreef Moderator 10 & Over Club Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Long Island, NY/North Miami Posts: 36,538	Both the scooter and the eel tend to be resistant to ich, however, that means that yes they can get it and carry it. __________________ Bill "LOL, well I have no brain apparently. " - dc (Debi) Current Tank Info: Far too many tanks according to my wife, LOL.

11/23/2006, 11:09 AM	#2
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	Have you treated your tank with any medication?

11/23/2006, 11:44 AM	#3
coker98 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 594	the uv may kill large amounts of it. and scooters dont really get ich. they have adapted an extra thick slime coat for being able to live on the sand and hunt for food. it is possible for it to be in there still so you should treat your fish in the qt tank for four to six weeks.

11/23/2006, 06:34 PM	#6
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Can get/carry ich yes. Likely.. no...

11/23/2006, 06:48 PM	#7
hatfielj Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,234	In answer to your question: "Could it be possible that the ick could still be in my tank feeding on the scooter and eel? " YES, ich is a parasite that has a life cycle in which it spends some of the time in the gravel, some of the time free swimming in the water and the rest of the time attached to fish. If you've never treated your tank for ich its possible that there are still organisms living in your tank. However, I don't know if blennies or eels have any special resistance to ich ( I highly doubt it). But, generally fish only get ich when they are stressed and they lose some of their natural ability to resist infection (the 'slime' coating on their skin is one way they avoid infection). SO, as long as your eel and blenny are currently doing well and you don't do anything to stress them out they will probably remain free of infection. I don't think the ich is "feeding" on your fish otherwise they would actually have ich. If there are parasites still in your tank they are probably lying dormant in your gravel. If its been four months and your fish are not sick yet and you don't do anything to stress them out I'm sure they will remain in good health. Just be careful when adding new fish. Those will be the fish more likely to get ich because they are under so much stress from being taken from the ocean, shipped all over the country in a plastic bag and then being thrown in an aquarium. Some fish are more likely to get ich because they simply have less tolerance of stressful events. The QT will help in allowing them time to adjust before being introduced to your main tank and also to prevent any new infections they might be carrying from spreading to your main tank.