[JustOneMore20]

Ich usually is seen in stressed fish, which is why you see it in new tanks and with new fish. Plus, a stressed fish with ich will spread it to other fish, which is why QT is good for new fish. I've read that the ich parasite is in every tank, but fish aren't susceptible to it unless they are stressed. I'm not sure how much truth is in that though, but I know some people have fish that get ich without introducing new fish.

I've dealt with ich during my fish keeping years, but I have had tanks that didn't have ich......so yes, its possible to have a tank without ich. I think I've dealt with it maybe twice in almost 5 years.......and those were the result of introducing new fish who soon developed ich....and probably brought it with them, but I didn't notice.


Quarantining is a good thing with new fish. That way, if the new fish has something, it won't spread. Also, be careful when buying fish. If a fish in one tank has ich, then any fish you buy from there is likely to have it, since they have central water systems (or whatever they are called). Look at the fish you want as well as other fish in the store.