Blackspot

A few fish I collected recently are in quarantine and appear to have blackspot. What is the best course of treatment, some sort of formalin based product? Also, should I break down and disinfect the tank after treatment?


Thanks

A few fish I collected recently are in quarantine and appear to have blackspot. What is the best course of treatment, some sort of formalin based product? Also, should I break down and disinfect the tank after treatment?
Thanks

None, It will go away, unless you have great blue herons living in your fish room. The parasite needs birds to complete its life cycle.

Guess I will have to keep my window closed now. I used to let roseate spoonbills and snowy egrets hang out in my fishroom/office.

Guess I will have to keep my window closed now. I used to let roseate spoonbills and snowy egrets hang out in my fishroom/office.

None, It will go away, unless you have great blue herons living in your fish room. The parasite needs birds to complete its life cycle.

Actually, it will not go away, but it will not propagate to your other fish, either. Matt is correct that it needs birds to complete its life cycle, and snails, too. Birds eat the infected fish, the parasite develops to the next stage of its life cycle in the birds, birds leave infected droppings in the water, the parasites find snails for the next stage in their life cycle, they then leave the snails to find fish and the life cycle is complete. They do not go from fish to fish; therefore, in an aquarium environment, they cannot propagate.

The black spots are actually secretions the fish's body makes around the parasite. They will not go away, because the parasite will not go away. It does not adversely affect the health of the fish. But since it cannot propagate, it is safe to keep with your other fish. If a fish has few, you can think of it as giving the fish some character. If it is heavily infested, the fish may look very ugly and you may want to find another specimen for your tank.

I have witnessed it disappear, The encysted parasites must die at some point, and become reabsorbed?

I like my fish ugly, so its all good.

Actually, it will not go away, but it will not propagate to your other fish, either. Matt is correct that it needs birds to complete its life cycle, and snails, too. Birds eat the infected fish, the parasite develops to the next stage of its life cycle in the birds, birds leave infected droppings in the water, the parasites find snails for the next stage in their life cycle, they then leave the snails to find fish and the life cycle is complete. They do not go from fish to fish; therefore, in an aquarium environment, they cannot propagate.

The black spots are actually secretions the fish's body makes around the parasite. They will not go away, because the parasite will not go away. It does not adversely affect the health of the fish. But since it cannot propagate, it is safe to keep with your other fish. If a fish has few, you can think of it as giving the fish some character. If it is heavily infested, the fish may look very ugly and you may want to find another specimen for your tank.

I'm pretty sure the blackspot will go away, the parasite has to die eventually. I read someplace that yellow spot dies after 4 years, not sure about blackspot.

IME it seems to go away within six months in an aquarium.

IME it seems to go away within six months in an aquarium.

I have had my pumpkinseed for about year and a half and it still has a few black spots on it, most have vanished though.

You know, you guys may be right. I thought it was supposed to be permanent and never looked to see if it was going away. Now that I am looking for it, I see one black spot on one of my pumkinseeds, and two on my yellow perch. I still see a spot on one of the bluegills also. I have had them all since August, and I remember there being several more spots. Excellent news! Thanks for pointing that out.

It goes away after 3 to six months usally for me.