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Saltwater Ich (Cryptocaryon) Life Cycle

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Saltwater Ich (Cryptocaryon) Life Cycle
Saltwater Ich (Cryptocaryon) Life Cycle

Cryptocaryon Biological Cycle

Graphic by Stan Hauter
The Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease (Cryptocaryon) parasite has 4 distinct phases in its life. (See Graphic below.)
  • 1. Tomont Stage
    • Trophonts which have burrowed into the gills & formed cysts, protected by gill mucus.
    • Trophonts can live in the cyst embedded in the gills almost indefinitely.
    • No effective treatment at this stage.
  • 2.
    • Trophont Stage
    • Tomont cysts have been discharged from the gills.
    • Can survive for 6 to 10 days in the cyst.
    • Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) and some chemical treatments are effective in exploding the cyst and Tomites.
  • 3. Tomite Stage
    • Parasites (Tomites) discharged from the Tomont cyst and become free swimming.
    • Tomites can survive for 1-2 days before they must find another host.
    • Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) treatment effective in exploding the Tomites.
    • Many chemical treatments effective at this stage.
  • 4. Trophont Stage
    • Tomites which attached to the fish's gills feed from the host, grow, form a cyst and become dormant.
    • Tomites which attach to the fish's surface feed from the host, grow, detach from the fish and go to the Trophont Stage 2.
    • Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) treatment effective in exploding the surface cysts.
    • Some chemicals effective in treatment of surface cysts at this stage.
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