Ich In Tank With Shrimp

[Mikaila31]

I just noticed a few of my fish in my planted tank are in the early stages of ich. This normally wouldn't be too big of a problem except they are in a tank with a large population of pest snails and cherry shrimp. I am thinking I am going to move all the fish to the quarantine tank and treat them there with a good ich med. But I don't know what to do about the shrimps and snails still in the main tank. Can't they potentially carry ich? If so I would just go through the same thing when I reintroduce the fish. Is there anything I can do to the main tank to get rid of the ich without killing the shrimp or snails?

 

[Mikaila31]

I have been looking at all the different medications I have, basically all state that they will kill shrimp and snails. Except for coppersafe, it doesn't state that it kills snails or shrimp. It says various things like, "Remove invertebrates without an exoskeleton from tank.", " may be harmful to plants and some snails", "remove invertebrates from tank". I looked at the brochure that is comes with and it says, " coppersafe may cause an adverse reaction with some sensitive invertebrates. Invertebrates without an exoskeleton such as jellyfish, anemones ect. should be removed before treatment. Coppersafe may be harmful to plants, amphibians and snails." I know at the recommended dosage it doesn't kill the snail or the plants that I have. But I am still unsure about the cherries. They have a exoskeleton, but what about right after they shed ? I'm thinking about testing it on a few of the shrimp in a bucket. Has anyone tried this? Any suggestions?

 

[eschaton]

From what I understand, there's essentially no way to treat your main tank. Ich can be cured in two manners: Through copper-based medications, or through adding salt and raising the temperature until the protozoan can no longer survive. With inverts, neither one is an acceptable outcome.

So, you have a few options.

1. Let nature take its course

2. QT all fish as they show Ich (I've done this before and it's worked out okay)

3. Move all fish into QT tank for several months until Ich in substrate dies from lack of host. This is the safest bet, but takes a long, long time.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

From what I understand, there's essentially no way to treat your main tank. Ich can be cured in two manners: Through copper-based medications, or through adding salt and raising the temperature until the protozoan can no longer survive. With inverts, neither one is an acceptable outcome.

So, you have a few options.

1. Let nature take its course

2. QT all fish as they show Ich (I've done this before and it's worked out okay)

3. Move all fish into QT tank for several months until Ich in substrate dies from lack of host. This is the safest bet, but takes a long, long time.

Best option would be to move the fish to another tank, treat them for ich and keep them out of the main tank for around 6-8 weeks (double check this is the lifespan of ich in a tank without a host). Shrimp will not carry ich but it will survive in the substrate for a certain amount of time (I'm sure its around 6-8 weeks).

If this isnt an option then the next best thing is to make sure the water quality is kept as high as possible, feed the fish with good quality food (frozen food enriched with garlic will help build up their immune system). If you can afford it running a UV filter will help kill off the parasites in the free swimming stage.

 

[poopsydrew]

Look Harder, there are ich medications safe for plants and invertabraes as well as your biological filter. I have used "Ich Sensitive" before and another product called "Ich attack" (which is also reef safe fyi). Just browse some online sites.


Drew

 

[Mikaila31]

Shrimp will not carry ich but it will survive in the substrate for a certain amount of time (I'm sure its around 6-8 weeks).

I didn't know that. That makes is a lot easier now, so is ich a fish only disease? I know my amphibians can't get it and now my shrimp, what about the snails? I will move all the fish to my 15 gal quarantine tank and treat them there.

Also dose anyone know how sensitive cherries are to copper? Before I got Barney's post I tested coppersafe on 3 or 4 cherries in a half gallon of water. I added 1/8 tsp, which is the recommended dosage. I left them in there with a heater and some plants for about 2 hours. None died and they all acted normal, but I'm not sure about prolonged exposer to the copper. Any thoughts?

 

[korin123456789]

Shrimp will not carry ich but it will survive in the substrate for a certain amount of time (I'm sure its around 6-8 weeks).

I didn't know that. That makes is a lot easier now, so is ich a fish only disease? I know my amphibians can't get it and now my shrimp, what about the snails? I will move all the fish to my 15 gal quarantine tank and treat them there.

Also dose anyone know how sensitive cherries are to copper? Before I got Barney's post I tested coppersafe on 3 or 4 cherries in a half gallon of water. I added 1/8 tsp, which is the recommended dosage. I left them in there with a heater and some plants for about 2 hours. None died and they all acted normal, but I'm not sure about prolonged exposer to the copper. Any thoughts?

hi i'm no professional but i had ich in my tank with a snail not wanting to take a chance with the med i did a temp raise & added salt and about 10 days later all was gone and has not come back
but not sure how this will affect the shrimp
Good luck

 

[poopsydrew]

Shrimp will not carry ich but it will survive in the substrate for a certain amount of time (I'm sure its around 6-8 weeks).

I didn't know that. That makes is a lot easier now, so is ich a fish only disease? I know my amphibians can't get it and now my shrimp, what about the snails? I will move all the fish to my 15 gal quarantine tank and treat them there.

Also dose anyone know how sensitive cherries are to copper? Before I got Barney's post I tested coppersafe on 3 or 4 cherries in a half gallon of water. I added 1/8 tsp, which is the recommended dosage. I left them in there with a heater and some plants for about 2 hours. None died and they all acted normal, but I'm not sure about prolonged exposer to the copper. Any thoughts?

DO NOT USE COPPER. Copper is very deadly to most invertabraes including shrimp.

Drew

 

[hollyp0p]

would using the heat treating technique not be suitable??
sorry i don't know whether snails and shrimps can cope with that or not....my tank is currently being treated with salt and heat but i only have fish who tolerate salt in mine

 

[Mikaila31]

I move all the fish to the QT tank, they are all being treated with a good med. The main tank is just sitting for now, I have the temp at 80 with no salt. I didn't add any copper to the main tank and I don't plan too. Any idea how long it will take for the ich to die off in the main tank?

 

[poopsydrew]

I move all the fish to the QT tank, they are all being treated with a good med. The main tank is just sitting for now, I have the temp at 80 with no salt. I didn't add any copper to the main tank and I don't plan too. Any idea how long it will take for the ich to die off in the main tank?

Treat for 4 weeks to be sure. Be sure not to miss a treatment. Good luck.

Drew