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| Hi Kelly, I've been asked recently about mandarins and their susceptability to the "Ich" parasite and was told within the discussion that mandarins are immune to it, totaly. That they secrete an anti-parasite compound in their mucus and can be just dumped right into a show tank with no need to quarantine. I found a few problems with that notion and wonder if I am on the right track or not. Here was my reply in general: I would assume that mandarins have gills just as any other fish does, and for those gills to serve their purpose of extracting oxygen from the water, they must be as "open" to the water as possible for them to funtion properly, as such, and knowing that most parasites first choice of attack/attachment are the gills, most likely for just that reason, I would imagine that mandarins are just as susceptable to such attacks as any other fish. While their thick mucus body coating may afford them some protection against adult parasites, it may also just cloak the presence of such adults as well. I find it hard to believe that any one species of fish could be totaly immune from all parasites, in the evolution of such feeding strategies amongst parasites, I would think that at least one type would have evolved to counter what the mandarins mucus strategy may have been trying to accomplish. The old natures "arms race" thing. In short, while a mandarin may appear to never carry parasites to the naked or untrained eye, I feel positive that they just as any other fish, are quite capable of introducing a parasite to a tank. Then again, I may be way off the mark in my logic as well. Any insight would be appreciated since this seems to be an ongoing assumption. Thanks. Chuck
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Group: Moderators
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| Chuck, Great topic/thread. A couple of my thoughts on this - first off, quarantine should always be part of husbandry. Just because a fish is "immune" to something, doesn't mean that it can't carry the parasite and introduce it (or any other pathogen) into the display system. Also quarantine is a time to observe the fish for pathogens (not just ich), a time for the fish to get used to living in a glass box and eating prepared food without the stress of established tank mates in a display tank. Thanks for your insight/sharing.
Kelly
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Thanks Kelly, I am doing my best to beat it into the heads of new hobbyists that basicaly, if its wet, quarantine it!!, I am still astonished on an almost daily basis by what seems an almost sheer lack of even knowing what quarantine is, let alone actualy using it..lol, I hear alot, as I am sure you do as well, that "My LFS never said anything about quarantine", which drives me nuts..lol, I mean, besides just being a good practice (healthy fish = happy customer), I would think that quarantines would be another money making side line for such stores. How many of us would tell a new hobbyist that a LFS is just ripping them off when they tell them that they should buy a quarantine set up as well as what is needed for a show tank. And how many online stores recommend quarantine themselves? or offer a "quarantine package"? Sorry for the rant, it just seems this subject is always such a big surprise to alot of hobbyists, and of course, the usual logic used by established hobbyists to get around something as well. (short cuts verses doing whats right) Such as super duper indestructable mandarins, oh, and lets not forget my all time favorite, The ich parasite has now evolved into a spore like creature, capable of flight just as pollen spores, which explains why its always in the tanks, and theres nothing to be done except just live with it...lol, I still have the scar when I fell out of my chair laughing when told that one.. Chuck
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I have heard this myth repeated often enough myself. And, it is a myth. I have seen firsthand several mandarins covered with Ich before. While it doesn't happen often, that does not mean it can't happen.
Steven Pro, yeah that is my real name.
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| Thanks Steven, having someone state an actual observation of mandarins with Ich seals that myths fate. Chuck
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I'm sure that you are in true, but I know almost two tanks where all fishes was died by crypto but picturatus live till now. Maybe it's only luck, but in my opinion there's "something" in picturatus that "shield" it against Ich.
Javier
Kindly from Mediterranean Sea (Alicante The Spring's Home)
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Group: Moderators
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| JGC, Mandarins may be/are less susceptible to ich. They still can catch the parasite. They CAN carry the parasite and infect the tank. Bottom line is: they like anything that is wet needs to be quarantined to prevent the introduction of parasites/pathogens into the display tank.
Kelly
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