My question exactly -- can ich appear out of nowhere? I have seven mollies, one tiger barb, two ghost shrimp, one nerite, and one mystery snail in a 10 gallon tank. Not ideal, I know, I am looking to rehome. The mollies have always been mine, as in I have a molly mom who birthed them (actually recently passed away, she was living in the same tank). Now, only one of my mollies has (what I would assume) to be ich. The whole body is covered in it.
But I am wondering where it came from? The mom molly originally had ich for a while, but that was in August of 2019 and went away on its own in a week. I got the shrimp and snails on Christmas Eve, but I thought invertebrates don't carry ich? Please correct me if I am wrong. I started noticing the ich today. I do not have a heater, so the temp stays at about 70-75 degrees. Not ideal either; I was looking to buy a heater when I set up my next tank, and will be rehoming the mollies. Although I may have to buy one now to treat it. I have not added any new fish or plants ever since then.
Anyway, back to my question, can ich appear out of nowhere? Or did it come from the new invertebrates? Maybe the ich was in the store water and it got into the tank when I was adding the newcomers? Or possibly it isn't ich at all? That seems to be the only thing I can think of, I will insert a picture tomorrow. Thanks in advance, and be sure to ask follow-up questions should you have them! I can also fill out the emergency template if necessary.
But I am wondering where it came from? The mom molly originally had ich for a while, but that was in August of 2019 and went away on its own in a week. I got the shrimp and snails on Christmas Eve, but I thought invertebrates don't carry ich? Please correct me if I am wrong. I started noticing the ich today. I do not have a heater, so the temp stays at about 70-75 degrees. Not ideal either; I was looking to buy a heater when I set up my next tank, and will be rehoming the mollies. Although I may have to buy one now to treat it. I have not added any new fish or plants ever since then.
Anyway, back to my question, can ich appear out of nowhere? Or did it come from the new invertebrates? Maybe the ich was in the store water and it got into the tank when I was adding the newcomers? Or possibly it isn't ich at all? That seems to be the only thing I can think of, I will insert a picture tomorrow. Thanks in advance, and be sure to ask follow-up questions should you have them! I can also fill out the emergency template if necessary.
