Treatment of white spots (manka) on fish: 4 effective methods!

For any aquarium owner, white spots, also referred to as "manka" or ich, can be an unsettling sight. More than just an unsightly blemish, these microscopic white spots on your fish indicate that it is infected with a parasite. If left untreated, ich can spread quickly and harm your tank as a whole.

Maintaining a healthy and active aquarium requires knowing how to treat this condition. Thankfully, there are practical ways to deal with this problem and safeguard your fish. This post will discuss four tried-and-true methods for treating fish white spots so they can regain their vibrant, healthy appearance.

Symptoms and causes of the disease

The primary indicator of an emerging disease in fish kept in aquariums is the appearance of white patches on their bodies. At first, there are just a few spots, but as time goes on, the number of white dots increases daily. Fish white spots are about the size of a semolina grain. Fish ichthyophthirius is caused by bacteria and ciliates that are brought into the aquarium with food, soil, and water. Fish scales are covered with bacteria. Semolina, or white spots on fish, are actually tubercles that allow parasites to proliferate.

• restless behavior;
• fish rub their bodies against objects, plants and soil;
• if internal organs are affected, pets become passive to external irritants, their appetite disappears, they often stay on the surface of the aquarium, swallowing air;
• if the cornea of ​​the eyes is affected, blindness develops;
• the color of the scales and body fades;
• the scales become covered with a white coating.

Aquarium inhabitants may perish from oxygen deprivation and extensive epithelium damage if prompt action is not taken.

Among affected species, viviparous individuals are most frequently affected. For humans, this bacterium poses no threat.

Causes of semolina infection in fish:

• live food, it is especially difficult to remove parasites from plants brought from tropical places;
• the appearance of new fish in the aquarium;
• dirty soil;
• as a result of poor and irregular cleaning of the aquarium: you should clean the plaque on the walls, wash the filter;
• cold water;
• temperature changes in the aquarium;
• stress.

The disease is also known by the name Ichthyophthirius, which is invisible to the unaided eye during the early stages of infection, prior to the development of tubercles.

How to treat ichthyophthirius

It’s critical to take the necessary steps to sanitize the aquarium in addition to tending to the fish in it. Aquarium fish semolina was once thought to be easily treated, but as parasites evolve defense mechanisms against bacteria, treating semolina is getting harder and harder. It is imperative that you treat the semolina as soon as the disease’s initial symptoms appear, as the fish in the aquarium could perish within a week.

The fish can be healed by being left in the aquarium or by being transferred to another container.

Techniques for dealing with white spots:

1. Treatment of ichthyophthirida with salt
2. "Malachite green"
3. Hydrogen peroxide
4. A mixture of the medicine "malachite green" with others

Treatment of ichthyophthirida with salt

Because tropical bacteria can withstand salt water well, this approach can be used to treat ciliates that have been brought from nearby waters. One tablespoon of salt needs to be added to ten liters of water, and the temperature needs to be gradually raised to thirty-two degrees. The course of therapy lasts for 14 days. It is required to change the water every week by 30% after 30 days of therapy. Reducing the amount of oxygen required for ciliates’ essential activity and preventing their reproduction with an elevated water temperature allow for efficiency.

"Malachite green"

Because fish and plants do not tolerate a concentration of 0.09 mg/l well, the drug’s effectiveness is diminished. Moreover, a decrease in concentration also results in a decrease in the drug’s effectiveness. Furthermore, it is advised to use an indicator of no more than 0.06 mg/l in aquariums containing juvenile fish and fish without scales. It is applied gradually until the rash goes away, and then it is continued for a few days after the visible symptoms have vanished. It is required to replace the water after every addition of the medication.

Hydrogen peroxide

One milliliter (milliliter) of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution should be added for every ten liters of water. The oxygen it adds to the water will make breathing easier for the residents. It is advised to closely monitor the dosage, as fish that have an excessive concentration of hydrogen peroxide may suffer damage or fin burn.

Mixture of the drug "malachite green" with others

Since the use of these products interferes with biological filtration, it is crucial to administer this treatment exclusively in separators. The combination is intended to effectively combat infection.

Fish semolina is treated with the following medications:

• antipar;
• nitrofurans;
• furacilin.

Formalin, methylene blue, and malachite green work well together to fight ichthyophthirius. Antipar treatment refers to a combination of these medications.

Furacilin therapy for ichthyophthirius is another effective antimicrobial agent. Pharmacies sell furacilin. It is necessary to take a medication that is manufactured as tablets with a 0.02 g dosage. You must fully dissolve 1.5 tablets in warm water in order to perform therapy. Pour the malachite green solution that was previously described into the liquid. This combination is sufficient for a 20-liter aquarium.

Furacilin should be taken as directed by a physician, calculating 6–8 tablets for every 100 liters of water. Half of the dissolved tablet must be added, and the water must be replaced by 20% each day for four to six days.

Branded medications for aquarium fish that cause ichthyophthirius:

• manufacturer Sera;
• manufacturer Tetra;
• Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API);
• JBL Punktol ULTRA (for acute stages of the disease).

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals comes in liquid and capsule form. When the disease is acute, the liquid medication can be used in place of or in addition to capsule therapy. Its composition differs from that of the capsules.

Fish treated with semolina respond well to specialized pharmaceutical drugs. Various manufacturers produce tablets, and the list of fish medications made from semolina is updated on a regular basis. This is because previously used medications become less effective, bacteria develop resistance, and fish treatment methods are always being refined.

It’s crucial to carefully read the instructions before using any medication for ichthyophthirius because each one has unique ingredients and therapeutic effects that affect aquarium occupants in different ways.

• additional increase in aeration;
• maintain the required water temperature.

Prevention

It’s important to follow safety precautions in order to prevent the disease:

• quarantine for new aquarium inhabitants, including plants;
• ensuring aquarium hygiene, for this there should be a separate siphon, net and other accessories.

It is not permitted to add a newly acquired pet right away to the main aquarium. Fish do not always exhibit white dots in open spaces, so even a thorough examination prior to purchase does not ensure health. Hibernating ciliates can be found on the skin, in the mouth cavity, or in the gills. Stress during transit and when a pet is added to a new aquarium causes the fish to become stressed, which activates the disease and causes it to start actively developing.

Before a new pet can be added to the main reservoir, it must first be housed in a quarantine aquarium with a single domestic animal and left there for a few days.

When something new enters the aquarium, it’s critical to keep an eye on the residents’ behavior to prevent cross-contamination of the entire system. Disease outbreaks can happen at any time of year, season, or day. It has been observed, nevertheless, that the illness is particularly prevalent in the spring and summer.

Maintaining the health of your aquarium depends on treating "manka," or white spots on fish. Restoring your fish’s health can be greatly impacted by taking prompt action and selecting the appropriate treatment.

Consistency is essential, regardless of the method you choose—whether it’s increasing the temperature, applying salt treatments, giving the fish medicine, or improving its surroundings. Future outbreaks can be avoided with appropriate care and routine monitoring.

Recall that your attention to detail determines your fish’s health. You can give all of your aquatic pets a healthier and happier environment by using these techniques.

"Manka," or white spots on fish, can be a major problem in aquariums, but with the right care, they can be successfully treated. This article will discuss four tried-and-true solutions to help you get rid of this common fish disease, keeping your aquarium thriving and your aquatic pets healthy.

Video on the topic

Treatment of Ichthyophthirius (manka) in aquarium fish.

How to treat manka (ichthyophthirius): two reliable methods of treatment, in detail with dosages of drugs

Treatment of manka in fish in a common aquarium with plants! Ichthyophthirius white dots on fish!