Using Heat as a Treatment

Using Heat as a Treatment by Ardan, May 22, 2003

Heat can be used to kill many parasites. Some parasites can not

tolerate as high of a temperature as the discus can tolerate.
Higher heat may not kill all parasites but it can stress them

enough to make other treatment strategies more effective.

Parasites that are weakened by the heat may succumb more easily

to salt and/or other medications.

Some temperatures that are effective in killing certain parasites

are as follows.

Costia parasite: 92 F for four days
Ichthyophthirius (ick): 92 F for 10 days
Oodinium (velvet): 93 F for 24 to 36 hours


Some of these parasites may have become more resistant to

these temperatures. However discus do well at 94 F for some

time.

Remember that warmer water carries less oxygen, so be sure to

use extra aeration (surface water turbulence) when using high

heat.

With an increase in temperature, the fish also produce more

antibodies to help fight infections. Higher temperatures also

increase the fish's metabolism and apetite.

Ick does not do well in normal discus temperatures of middle 80

F temperatures, so it is rarely if ever seen in discus tanks.

Bacteria may grow faster at higher temperatures, but at the same

time bacteria may not be at optimum temperatures to live at their

best, therefore, if conditions are kept clean, and proper

medication is used to fight the bacteria, high heat can "at times"

be a benefit when treating bacterial problems. Oftentimes lower

temperatures are used to fight bacterial infections while the

bacteria are reproducing at a slow rate.

When new fish are received some folks like to elevate the

temperatures to 90 F for a week to 10 days to increase the fish's

metabolism, increase apetite, and kill off possible unwanted

parasites. This is used as a preventative measure to try to ensure

healthy fish from the start.

Sources:
Handbook of Fish Diseases by Dieter Untergasser
Cary Strong of Great Lakes Discus

I'd be interested to know if there is any literature on the upper limits of temperature survival of flukes like Gyrodactylus. Therefore making heat a useful tool for these nasties as well. I've successfully treated a planted tank at 36C degrees, but I have no evidence that it was the temp. that killed the flukes.

James

HI James,
I don't know of a temp that can kill the flukes and not the discus.