Ich.... Now What?!?

[LolaLouie]

Last night all my fish were fine, this morning my pentazona barbs are covered in white spots... I put protozin in straight away (30ml for my 50 gallon tank). I know why they've got it... I just bought a load of new fish.. although weirdly none of the new fish are showing symptoms.

What do I do now? Is ich curable?

Thanks

 

[Pleccy]

Ich, otherwise known as Whitespot (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) can spread very quickly so the trick is to catch it early, like you have done. Many fishkeepers raise the temperature of the tank, and in many cases it works, however I would reserve this method for fish that are particuarly sensitive towards chemical treatments.

Also do you have access to a quarantine tank? The reason I ask this is because it would be a good idea to remove the affected fish and treat them in another tank.

 

[LolaLouie]

I have a quarantine tank but it is at my parents (almost 2 hours away!) would it save the other fish if I kill the infected ones?

 

[Pleccy]

By killing the infected fish you won't necessarily save the others, whitespot needs a host to infect (in this case the fish). Also all tanks contain protozoans and parasites in small background populations, once a fish becomes stressed, it lowers the immune system, leaving the fish open to attack from disease.

 

[WILDER]

No need to kill fish the tank still wants treating anyway.
Raise temp to 30 once you have added the med.
Increase aeration with the high temp and med as it reduces 02 in the water.
Remove black carbon from the filter if you use it.
Read med instructions carefully that you can use full dose with the fish you keep.

 

[Attilauk]

sorry to hijack this but i didn't want to start a similar thread.

i found one of my Red Line Torpedo Barbs dead this morning there were no marks on it and he had not been acting strangely at all, one of the others however had a white spot on its nose. i've just been out to get some protozin to treat the tank and i will be doing a large water change tonight before adding it. just to add the Ammonia and Nitrite readings last night were 0 and the tank was due a weekly water 25% change tonight anyway.

i have 3 questions
1) how essential is it to raise the temperature? the Red Lines prefer cooler water (sub 25 degrees C) and i think the higher temperature may stress them out too much.
2) i am running a Seachem Purigen pouch in my external filter, should i remove it before i add the protozin? i know carbon should be removed but i don't run it in my filter anyway.
3) can the white spot organism develop internally? the dead fish had no sign of any spots and no signs of damage. im just wondering if the tank may 'also have' white spot...

 

[WILDER]

How big is the spot on the fish.
If its bigger than a grain of salt it dosn't sound like whitespot.

Columnaris spots will look a greyish white with a tinging of red around the edges of the spot, or a red centre.

 

[snowflake311]

It is cure able and it's not that hard to get rid of it if you do it right.

I just had a battle with some Ich. My fish only got about 2 spots on them and not all the fish were infected. I treated the whole tank not just the ones showing signs.

Raise the temp 82F if you can. This will speed up the life cycle. They can only be killed when they fall off and are free swimmers. When you see the spots on your fish they can not be killed at that point. BUt raising the temp will speed up the process and they will fall off sooner.

WATER CHANGE, WATER CHANGE, WATER CHANGE.... This will help a lot. When they are in the free swimming mode changing the water will lessen the load of these annoying little guys. ALSO water changes are like a breath of fresh air for your fish and will help keep them less stressed and healthy.

The first one should be a 50% change with the gravel vac. Once fresh water is added then add your treatment. I have had good luck with Rid Ich. read directions and treat.

next day do another 25% water change and add your dose of meds.

You don't have to do a water change every day but every other day is a good idea. You don't want a build up. And fish love clean water.

You are going to need to continue treatment of the WHOLE tank for 10-14 days. Just because you don't see any dots does not mean they are not there.



PS. Do not separate fish if ich is in the tank it is there to stay taking out infected ones will not help. You need to treat all the infected water. Only time you would separate a ich fish is if you notice a secondary infections developing. Secondary infections do happen to fish that are overly stressed and get ick. The secondary infection is what can kill the fish. I lost one of mine it this. . All my other fish were fine and have all fully recovered.

To fully understand Ich check this site out.
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php

 

[Attilauk]

How big is the spot on the fish.
If its bigger than a grain of salt it dosn't sound like whitespot.

Columnaris spots will look a greyish white with a tinging of red around the edges of the spot, or a red centre.

ah the spot is about 2-3mm across and it is white, no grey tinge to it at all and no red either.

 

[WILDER]

Could be colummaris then.
Is the fish flicking and rubbing.
Is it possible to load a pic up of the sick fish,.