Garlic Cured Our Ick.

[PrairieMom]

I have been battling Ich for an eternity now and have had many casualties, but thought we were over it, bought 4 tetras and a snail, and surprise! we got Ick again. I added a few grains of minced garlic to our 10 gallon tank every other day for a few days and the ick is completely gone in 3 of the 4 fish! My son's bedroom reaks like garlic tho. Is it really possible that the garlic cured them? How is that even possible? and How long should I continue to add the garlic?

 

[CrashingWaves]

A couple days ago was the first time I heard anything about garlic being of any medical use to fish. So your guess is as good as mine. I will be curious to hear what others have to say though.

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[WILDER]

Did you have some med left in the tank.
http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/sp/index.php

 

[CrashingWaves]

The real test as to if it could cure ich would be to test it on clown loaches. I've run some tests like this before to test a treatment. I'm very tempted to attempt it now with this.


God Bless,
Joshua

 

[PrairieMom]

Did you have some med left in the tank.
[URL="http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/sp/index.php"]http/www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/sp/index.php[/URL]

Nope, my tank was totally Med free. I don't know why or how, but for us, it definitely helped. Its the only thing I changed or added, and the effects were immediate.

 

[WILDER]

Do you use a uv light.

 

[PrairieMom]

Do you use a uv light.

nope. I didn't raise the temp or add salt either. I was worried about possible harming the snail, so I decided to do nothing, and not treat the ick, then I saw the garlic in my fridge and thought it was worth a try.
I'm gonna do a 10% water change tomorrow, but I don't think I will be adding any more, the water is getting pretty stinky.

 

[WILDER]

I would preform a water change and gravel vac then.
Have my doubts about garlic curing whitespot, but will keep an open mind.

 

[TigerLotus]

But even if the Ick is off the fish that doesn't mean that the Ick is gone. My understanding of this parasite is that it will eventually drop off the fish and become free swimming. Just because you dont see it doesn't mean it is not there. The real way to see if it worked is by seeing if the Ick returns after whatever the time frame the free swimming period lasts with the Ick. Other wise all that happened was that the ick fell off and became free swimming and then it will soon return.

I have heard of garlic being used in a fish tank before but it was usually to induce hunger into fish that were not eating.

Whatever the outcome good luck : )

TigerLotus

 

[gourami_fan]

The garlic might have boosted their immune system if they ate any, or the ich can be going through its cycle once more and it might pop up in another 3-5 days again. Make sure you siphon the gravel, since some of the ich might have dropped off the fish.

 

[backtotropical]

I've heard of garlic being used to treat ich in reef tanks where copper-based medication isn't an option.

What the science behind it is, i don't know, but yes, i have heard of it before.