Pets are considered as the best friend of man. Pets are treated as children and family members.
They are loyal, sacrificing, and love their owners unconditionally. They alleviate stress and break the monotony from the work.
Keeping fish as pets is quite common. But fish do not survive and die due to diseases like Ick or Ich.
Key Takeaways
- Ick is a colloquial expression of disgust or dislike, whereas Ich is a German pronoun meaning ‘I.’
- Ick is used in the East End of London, whereas Ich is used in German.
- Ick is not a standard English word, whereas Ich is a commonly used German word.
Ick vs Ich
“Ick” is a colloquial term referring to ichthyophthirius multifiliis, a protozoan parasite causing white spot disease in freshwater fish. “ich” is the standard abbreviation for this same parasite, also known as “white spot disease”, affecting both freshwater and saltwater fish.
Ick has the potential to cause disturbances in osmoregulation which further allows other bacteria and fungi to enter and affect the cells of the skin. The overall effect of this condition can deplete and reduce oxygen supply levels.
On the other hand, Ich is also known as white spot disease. The life cycle of Ich ranges from 13 to 15 days, divided into three major stages.
The symptoms of the infection are changes in the behavior of swimming, loss of appetite, frayed fins, or rubbing of the skin against decorations or other objects.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Ick | Ich |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Ichthyophthiriasis | Ichthyophthiriasis |
| Causative agent | Ichthyophthirius multifilis | Ichthyophthirius multifilis |
| Effect | Affects fish with low immune system | Affects fish that have a weak immune system and can cause death ultimately |
| Type | Protozoan Disease | Protozoan Disease |
| Prevention | The temperature of the aquarium should be around 78 to 80 °F for a minimum of two days | The temperature of aquarium should be around 78 to 80 °F for a minimum of two days |
What is Ick?
Ick is a protozoan disease caused by fish is which live in closed vessels, especially Koi. Ick is the short term of the full name of the disease called Ichthyophthiriasis.
The causative agent of the disease is a protozoan called Ichthyophthirius multi-files. The protozoan survives mostly in fresh water and seawater.
The ciliated protozoan also survives in closed vessels. The parasite lives under the skin of the fish and irritates the skin.
It has the potential to cause disturbances in osmoregulation which further allows other bacteria and fungi to enter and affect the cells of the skin. Though Ick is not fatal, it acts as a gateway for other infections which can be fatal.
After the initial stages of living under the skin, the protozoan attaches itself to the gills of the fish. This attachment can cause interference in the cells that actively carry oxygen.
The overall effect of such a condition can deplete and reduce oxygen supply levels. The disease can be identified by noticing symptoms like difficulty in breathing, rubbing of the skin against decorations or other objects, washed-off slime coat, which increases the mucous layer of the fish, changes in the behavior of swimming, loss of appetite, frayed fins, and appearance of cloudy eyes are some of the common symptoms of the disease Ick.
What is Ich?
Ich is also known as Ick in various places. It is also known as a white spot, as the symptoms involve the appearance of a “salt grain-like texture” on the skin of the fish.
The introduction or occurrence of the parasite in the closed vessel can be due to many reasons, among which the most common is the arrival of new fish in the vessel. Most healthy fishes maintain a balanced relationship with the host and keep the production and population of the host under control.
However, the new arrival of batches has a weaker immune system and is unprepared for the infection. Such batches are most susceptible and vulnerable to parasitic infection.
The deterioration in the parameters of water is also a common cause of infection. Ich can also be caused due to excessive waste accumulation in the water, fluctuations in pH levels, ammonia, nitrates, and dissolved oxygen content.
Most outbreaks of parasitic infection can be avoided by maintaining a clean, hygienic, and good aquarium. Ich has a life cycle that can be broadly divided into three stages.
The life cycle ranges from 13 to 15 days, and temperature plays a vital role in accelerating the cycle. The mature parasite can be identified as they form pustules on the skin and then pustule ruptures, allowing the trophont to settle at the bottom of the vessel.
Main Differences Between Ick and Ich
- Ick affects fishes with a weak immune system, while Ich affects fishes that have newly arrived and have low immunity and preparedness.
- Ick can be prevented by maintaining the temperature of the aquarium to around 78 – 80 °F for 2 days, while Ich can be prevented by quarantine tank or fish dip before introduction.
- Ick can be treated with Formalin, while Ich can be treated with Malachite Green.
- Ich and Ick are caused by the same ciliated protozoan host called Ichthyophthirius multi files.
- Ich and Ick stand for the same parasitic infection, which is called Ichthyophthiriasis.
- https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/abaj104§ion=67
- https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=AV2012094450
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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This article is a great source of information and provides a deeper understanding of Ick and Ich.
I found this article enlightening. I had no idea about the differences between Ick and Ich. Thank you.
As a fish pet owner, learning about these differences was very insightful. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
Understanding these differences is beneficial for anyone who keeps fish as pets. This is valuable information.
This is a comprehensive and informative article that describes the differences between Ick and Ich. I am glad I read it.
An interesting read. The comparison table is especially useful to understand the differences between Ick and Ich.