Courtesy David Gabriel Ich Swarmers

David Gabriel sent me a short video clip that seems to represent it in the swarmer phase. This is the phase before you see the Large encysted versions. The smaller organisms are very agile and active, they are promontory to the appearance of white spots on tropical species or culminating it infestations on the gills and bodies of Koi and Goldfish. With or without white spots. In other words, this is catching an infestation early.


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One alternative might be Tetrahymena, but I believe this is Ich swarmer’s.

The reason I’m confident in this being Ich swarmers is because no matter how small they are, they are all pointy, and you can even see the macro nucleus developing in some of the Swarmers.

Author: Dr. Erik Johnson
Dr. Erik Johnson is the author of several texts on companion animal and fish health. Johnson Veterinary Services has been operating in Marietta, GA since 1996. Dr Johnson graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. Dr Johnson has lived in Marietta Georgia since 1976.