white spot and snails

Hello, haven't been on here in a while and it has all changed again!

I've been struck with the terrible whitespt. I've been treating and the fish that has it  and she seems to be responding

so fingers crossed!

I took my snails out before i treated as I know the treatment would kill them. What i'm wondering is if snails can carry white spot? It feels like a silly question but I had to ask as I don't want to reintroduce white spot when i return them.

Thanks!

Hi Emma, it's not a silly question, more a very interesting one

I don't know to be honest and it hasn't even crossed my mind until now. As they need a "host" I'd imagine they'll have to get to the snail flesh. Would whitespot want slimy snail flesh?? I don't know.

You did right in moving them though with the medication used, good to see someone reading the instructions

I'm sure someone will be able to help more about the w/s-snail query :)

 It is something that has crossed my mind in the past. We had our first lot of whitespot after two nerite snails were added and I did wonder if it was them

I have never persued the question though.

Welcome back by the way Em

noooooo   snails dont get whitespot, and any treatment will indeed kill them, good luck, have you tried adding some salt and turning up the temp, that speeds thing up in terms of killing of the parasite. di

Thanks for the replies! Thats good- won't worry about reinfecting then.

I have turned up the temperature but havent added salt as I have cories.

Thanks for the welcome back Jan! I will try and get on here more... its my job's fault...

Ah, an interesting question that I had never really considered. 

Thinking about it I don't see why they should carry them as I have never seen a snail infected with whitespot and i'd have thought that they would show symptoms of the whitespot if they were carrying it. 

 I have just skimmed over this article, (http://www.novalek.com/kordon/articles/ich.htm )and it says    ' Ich is most often introduced into the aquarium or pond by adding new fishes, snails, sessile invertebrates such as coral or medusae, or aquatic plants'. 

I know it isn't conclusive, but any animal be it a fish or human can carry some diseases without developing them.

This is very interesting and not something I have ever thought of or read about.  I believe whitespot can lie dormant for long periods as 'cysts' that settle in the substrate.  It would be feasible for these cysts to settle on other organisms such as snails...maybe...

 Nothing that happens in a fishtank would surprise me

Thanks for the replies! Sounds as though I can't guarantee being safe then. I think I shall quantine  them for abit just in

case and then risk it.

The chances are that your subtrate, and those of everyones tank carries the dormant cysts and will come active when conditions are right for them, and when fish have a reduced immune system (stress or bad water...).  Am not sure how effective quarentine really is for whitespot, but probably still worth doing just in case....