I Hate Ich

[minxfishy]

Turned on the lights lunchtime to do a water change on the rio 400, to find Texas and Geophagus Brasiliensis, covered in spots I had noticed the other fish flicking yesterday on the sand/wood, but couldnt see anything, today its everywhere. Maybe this helps explain why the Vieja isnt eating, he isnt feeling too good, although I can see no spots on him, he is flicking more than any other fish. The only ones seemingly not affected are the BGKF/Bichirs and Large red spot Sev, everyone else is bugged by it.

Its my own fault, new fish Saturday (the Geophagus) obviously bought it in, its the 1st time Ive ever had fish from the store I bought them from ever have anything wrong, guess it had to happen at some point!

Anyway temp is now rising as I type to 30-32c, med added etc etc, I know it will be gone in a few days, but its flipping annoying all the same.

Rant over

 

[star4]

What a pain! I hope they all feel better soon and it clears up quickly.

Bailey made me panic this morning about ich in my tank I was watching her flicking on the bottom, till she finally dug up a trumpet snail and ate it

 

[star4]

How are they all looking this morning? fingers crossed everyone is ok.

 

[minxfishy]

Not good to be honest, I was refraining from commenting until I knew what was going to happen.

Texas and Vieja are seriously ill, both lying down, breathing heavily, Texas is covered, Vieja still has no obvious spots. Ive increased aeration in the tank, it sounds like niagra falls in here. I think its the temperature they dont like, both being central american, they dont like high temps, plus of course the Vieja wont eat either, but I have to keep it high. Also the smallest of the brasiliensis, isnt looking like its gonna make it. Harry nearly took out the light unit last night as he tried (least I think he was trying) to jump out, so he has a nasty lump on his head, those that are active are scratching on everything, The Danios are still fairly active, except one who is gasping at the surface, the only ones who dont look bothered are the ghost and bichirs.

Im going out soon to get a large airstone to help with the oxygen. Stats are all fine. Im expecting the worse.

The more I think about it, this could have come in on the Vieja, although the Geo's were the first to show spots, he hasnt been eating since I got him and he was the first with the flicking, although he doesnt have the spots, they could be in his gills (which you cant see). Either way, I think I might have caught this a little late. Also the move around of fish last week could have made it worse with stress, thankfully all fish in the trigon are showing no signs.

With all the problems over the last couple of weeks, if I lose Harry, I think Im done with this fish keeping lark, with my back still hurting constantly, fishes dying, water changes a pain (literally), the cost, plus a long list of other problems, I feel like giving up.

 

[snowflake311]

Oh no don't give up. You just hit a rough patch you can't be done. These things happen. We have all lost fish and everyone gets ich at least once. I have had to deal with it more times then I can count. I buy fish even if I know they have ich I feel the need to save them.

I honestly would bring the temp down sounds like it is doing more harm then good. All warm temp dose as I'm sure you know is speed the ich life cycle up. IMO it's not always a good idea to do this. You can still treat ich with out bring the temp up. The highest I have ever made my tank was 78f . Many times I don't even bring the temp up at all I find wc to be much more help then higher temps. Do you have clout over in the uk?If so use this stuff for the first few days it's very strong and will help you alot if the ich got the upper hand. You can see impovment in a day. They say do not use with scale-less fish.

Best of luck to you. You are a good fish keeper I think you will pull throw this.

 

[minxfishy]

Star4, Im so so so sorry hon, but the texas is gone I tried everything, I put an airstone near him, the temp is down to 28c, but he wouldnt revive, please forgive me. The Vieja I have moved to a small QT tank, bought a small internal filter and heater when I went out, using some mature media from an External, he is still breathing, but not much. Lost the Danio too.

Now Ive just seen a redeye tetra with half of his bum missing with a mass protruding out also. I need to treat for internal infection too, but not sure if I can mix two meds together. Harry is swimming vertically and bashing himself about and covered in spots, its heartbreaking to see him.

Snowflake, yeah I reduced the temp this morning, from 30c to 28c, the heat does speed up the cycle, but its known that ich will die and not reproduce at 32c, I was hoping to hit it hard with heat and meds, but it looks like its just meds because the temperature is too high for them all.

 

[star4]

Oh hun, I am so so sorry to read this, its made me feel sick to read you are having such a bad case of ich. Please dont be sorry its not your fault, look at the disaster I have had with the fronts this week!! It cant be helped hun, I dont think you can treat for both. As a precaution I am treating my tank for ich that the keyholes went into.

 

[minxfishy]

Oh no, the keyholes dont have it do they? They were in the tank with the Vieja for one day before you picked them up and he is in a bad way. Wilder is helping me in the Emergency section, for the red eye, likely internal parasites, now the keyholes and tetras never mixed, BUT if the Vieja bought this in, and its likely he did, because he hasnt eaten, you need to keep a close eye on the Keyholes for parasites/internal infection.

 

[star4]

The keyholes look fine, oh blow I didnt want to tell you as you have enough stress, but I have lost an ellioti and a juvi krib this morning out of the tank the keyholes are in and another krib is looking bad. The plec I put in with the baby fronts also came from that tank. I am treating both tanks for ich, I had run an anti bac in the baby front tank as a precaution when I lost lucky.

 

[minxfishy]

You may need to run an internal parasite med, if your losing fish in that tank with the keyholes, Im sorry, I had no idea, I would never have given them to you if Id known.

 

[star4]

Dont worry hun, poop happens I have dosed the tanks already with ich treatment once that course if over I will run and anti parasite treatment on both tanks

 

[snowflake311]

I'm so sorry you guys. Having sick fish is the worts. Best of luck I hope you don't lose any more and get it under control quick. Here in the USA we have mardel products that can be mixed. Do you have these? Maracyn 1 For gram negative infections and maracyn 2 for gram positive infections. These can be used with mardels coppersafe for exteral parasites. I have used both at once the fish were fine and pulled throw but I had a mini cycle to deal with because when you use them together it effects your filter.

Good luck I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. I don't even know Harry but I almost feel like I do with all the photos and stories I have seen and heard about. I really hope he makes it in fact seeing how pretty he is made me want one so I got Mr pink in hopes he would turn out as cool as yours.

 

[minxfishy]

Unfortunately out meds arent great and mixing them is a problem, there are only certain ones that can be used together, its usually a case of treat one infection, then deal with the other. Its like you can usually get antibiotics for fish easier over there than here, in the UK vets rarely deal with fish and most dont have a clue and to get antibiotics for fish, we need a prescription, we cant just buy it over the counter.

So long as Harry calms down, he should be fine, but because he is uncomfortable (with scratching himself) he keeps darting around and banging into stuff, scares the life outta me, he just isnt used to not feeling well and is a bad patient.

 

[minxfishy]

Update. All spots are now gone, in the main tank, I upped the temperature back to 31c, increased aeration even more and carried on with the medication. In total I lost 4 fish, the texas (which was my fault, he couldnt handle the temperature, should have moved him and the Vieja to a cooler tank to treat), red eye tetra, Giant danio and a small geophagus brailiensis

The Vieja once moved to a QT tank with cooler temperature slowly picked up, he still isnt particuarly active and yesterday had a few spots, which have now gone and a miracle occured, he ate! Will leave him in there for a few more weeks to ensure he is completely recovered.

Just done a 50% w/c on main tank, keeping temperature at 31-32c for another 5 days and still medicating to ensure these blighters dont come back.

Oh and for the first time ever Harry bite me today whilst changing water, he usually comes up for a stroke, but obviously to get me back for his horrible ordeal, he decided to take a chunk outta me, bleeding hurt I can tell ya.

 

[star4]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wonderfull news hun, sorry about the ones you lost though. Still keeping fingers crossed for the veija.