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My fish has white spot. How long until it's cured with treatment?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish

Hi my fish has white spot and i am treating it.how long should it approximately take to cure?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on January 8th, 2018

Ich, or white spot disease, can take about two weeks to treat. You can increase water temp gradually to 86F. This will speed up the ich lifecycle. Once the spots fall off your fish, vacuum the substrate thoroughly, clean plants or tank furniture and rinse the filter media (with tank water). You can use a commercial ich treatment or dissolve 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt (NOT table salt) per gallon of water into the tank. Either are effective when used in conjunction with a temp increase. Whichever method you choose, treat for about 5 days after the last symptoms resolve then gradually decrease water temp back to normal for goldfish. This would be between 65F and 72F.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on July 20th, 2017

    Ich can be effectively treated by gradually raising water temperature to 86 F. Do this over 24 hours and no more than 1 degree per hour. This will speed up the life cycle of the ich parasite (to about 10-12 days) and prevent it from infecting other fish. A sustained water temperature of 89 F will kill the parasite however it may also harm your fish, especially if it is a cold water species. You will need to increase aeration during this period to increase oxygenation since warm water will not hold as much oxygen as cool water. Once 86F is reached monitor your fish until the white spots disappear. At this point, perform daily 25% water changes using aged/conditioned water that is temperature matched to tank water. You can vacuum gravel or use a micron filter to remove any free swimming parasites. Plain Aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be dissolved in the water at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water to aid healing. After 15 days, begin to gradually decrease water temperature to normal. There are effective commercial treatments for ich, however they can be dangerous if administered improperly. Always read the label carefully and follow directions.

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