ICH ATTACK!

[frankycee]

OK, so my girlfriend noticed some white spots 2 days ago. We bought a ICH remedy that advertises that it cures ICH in 2 days. It also states to cut numbers of drops in half for tetras, which we did.

2 days later, ICH is still there, and might even be making progress (more spots on fins and tail). We have 5 tetres (red phantom) and 4 blue dwarf rainbows (not affected yet I think). Should we increse to the full dosage and risk harming the tetras?

Should we try another brand of medication?

 

[jrd77]

I imagine Wilder or someone will send you the ich article link so I won't b/c I do not have it handy BUT the life cycle is pretty long for ich and any remedy claiming to "cure" ich in two days is full of it in my opinion.

I would increase the temp. in the tank gradually until its about 82F or so (Some people bring it up to 86F...use your judgement). This speeds up the life cycle of the parasite. I'd also do a 25% water change and when you siphon the water, focus on the lower 2 inches of the water as this is where the free-swimming parasites live and you'll get rid of a few 100 thousand this way. I'd then add salt (aquarium salt) to the tank but since you have tetras, maybe in a half dose instead of full dose (thats 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons instead of per 5 gallons). I'd keep adding the ich stuff in this half dose for at least 2 weeks and see what happens...

I'm sure others will have advice as well. Best of luck to you.

 

[frankycee]

Thanks, after some reading, here's what i've found for solutions:

1. Raise water temp to 82-85

2. Turn off lights as they mess with cure effectiveness

3. Add aquarium salt (half dose because of tetras) Not done yet

4. Treat water with blue ICH cure/stuff

5. Do large (25%-50%) water change(s)

6. Lower Ph below 7, taking into account that salt will raise the Ph...

What i want to know is whether i should use tetra dosage or rainbow dosage.
I have 5 tetras at 2$ each and 4 raibows at 5$ each in a 20G tank. From an economic viewpoint, shouldnt I save the more expensive fish?

Tetras are showing 2-5 small spots each while rainbows seem un-affected yet!

 

[jrd77]

I would agree with all of that except the last statement...I wouldn't use chemicals to tinker with your pH. Monitor pH but using chemicals to alter the pH might cause more stress on the fish than you want. I would do anything there unless it was an absolute emergency and water changes usually help out pH anyway...

Use ther highest dosage that can be tolertaed by BOTH fish and keep using the meds for at least 2 weeks. I would think to use tetra dosage since you have tetras (unless the rainbow dosage is lower and they are more sensitive than tetras but I don't think so)...I'm not sure what economics has to do with it, no offense. Losing expensive fish sucks just as bad as losing the cheapies; I've lost both. They are living organisms regardless.....

Good luck and I hope your rainbows stay healthy.

 

[The Mohave Kid]

Ich can be quite tenacious .. so keep on guard .. at least one to two weeks ... keep track of how many spots are visable each day ... in your log book ... In my limited experience so far I like to look for at least 7 days of no Ich spots before I claim any type of victory ( while in the 80 plus range ) ...

I also agree don't change any of the water conditions unless really needed .. slow and steady ...

What med are you using ??

Good Day ... B)

 

[Candyco]

I've just been through very similar to yourself.... it wiped out my entire tank bar 1 fish.
I agree that wilder & Joby were a great help to me on this subject though..... let's hope they come along soon.
Hope you get on ok & you get everything sorted out. Try reading this link...
Kaz x-x-x-x-x

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=78736

 

[Joby]

Sounds like you have some good information there already apart from lowering the ph.

I've been treating my 210 litre now for 3 weeks with Interpet no.6 and its finally starting to work. There are only a few platy fry now with some spots. I tried raising my temperature but found that the fish were not happy even with lots of extra airstones in there. I couldn't add salt either as I have bristlenoses in there.

I really hope you can beat it, its awful to see the poor fish covered in spots

 

[laboul]

I hear that Ick Clear by Tankbuddies or Jungle is a good medication for ich. I am currently using it after reading about it on the forum. I hope it works for me. Good luck tryin gto get rid of this awful disease! I tried CureIck liquid medication, it didn't seem to do anything.

 

[frankycee]

Well, there go 2 of my red phantom Tetras.

I did a 50% water change today, after seeing how bad the disease got during the night. It was too little too late for those 2 little fishies.

They really looked to be suffering, full of spots, half breathing, unable to swim etc... I put em out of their misery, i didnt like seeing them like that.

If i'm being pessimistic, i say my 3 last tetras will also bite the farm, my dwarf rainbows seem better and almost un-affected.

 

[BettaMomma]

Sorry for your losses.
You did what was best for them, I'm sure.
I just watched my little Amos die from this HORRIBLE disease also.
He drug himself around on the bottom of his tank for 2 days before he finally decided it was his time. I was very near calling it quits for him soon if he didn't decide to on his own.

It was horribly sad to see so much suffering.
But....as I always say -
they are in a better place now - one with no overcrowded tanks, no plastic cups, plenty of food, no disease and noone to pick on them.

Hang in there.

 

[Candyco]

Well, there go 2 of my red phantom Tetras.

I did a 50% water change today, after seeing how bad the disease got during the night. It was too little too late for those 2 little fishies.

They really looked to be suffering, full of spots, half breathing, unable to swim etc... I put em out of their misery, i didnt like seeing them like that.

If i'm being pessimistic, i say my 3 last tetras will also bite the farm, my dwarf rainbows seem better and almost un-affected.

I don't mean to sound negative or anything but when i went through similar a few weeks ago my Penguin Tetras looked fine.... as if there were nothing wrong at all with them. I still lost 4 though. I do hope everything is ok for you though.

Kaz x-x-x-x-x

 

[Joby]

Sorry to hear about the tetras

Finally have no spots in my tank today but I've treated it again this morning and I'll do it again on Saturday as per Interpet no. 6 instructions. Its taken 4 weeks and I've lost 3 adult guppies, 2 adult platies and 3 neons There is a BN plec missing in action too but never found a body I feel lucky to have not lost more to be honest.

Good luck to you and your fish