Ich & frags

[Papa Doug]

So I,m trying to remember any discussion in the past on the transfer or ich with sps frags?

A friend is currently fighting some ich on a newly introduced fish. I was going in today to pick up some sps frags from his tank. I wont transfer any water but wonder about the parasites being attached to any sps frags?

I thought they needed a living host to survive? But then I know they can survive for some period of time in a tank with no hosts. Any thoughts?

[Ninong]

According to Terry B.'s article, there is a slight risk involved:

It is possible, but much less likely, to import Cryptocaryon irritans into a system by means other than on infected fish. Water containing the free-swimming (theront) stage is a possible means of introduction (Colorni & Burgess, 1997). However, considering the short time span in which theronts remain infective in the water after hatching this risk is significantly smaller. Storing the water for 24 hours before use should provide a margin of safety (Colorni & Burgess, 1997). Hard surfaces such as sand, rock, glass, equipment and even some invertebrates (invertebrates do not become infected) can serve as attachment sites for tomonts (Burgess, 1992). If any of these objects are removed from an infected tank or system and placed into another aquarium they may carry some tomonts or cysts. It is also theoretically possible to import an infection when using live foods of marine origin.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/mini1.htm

[Papa Doug]

Ohhh. Guess I should have checked some of his articles. Thanks. Not sure what to do now. Guess I will have to quarentine them.

I was also wondering what you guys thought of treating the frags with kick-ich or something similar, thats suppose to be reef safe. In a small enviroment, it may work.

I would use a fresh water bath, but first, I dont think it would work and the last time I put sps in fresh water, {during the flatworm wars}, they bleached. :eek3: