ich treatment and w/c

[GrullaQuarters]

My pictus cats have ich. This is the first time I've ever dealt with it, and I treated the tank last night. It's a 75 gallon, and I'm using Rid Ich. I did a 50% w/c before I treated it last night, and watched the fish for any reaction to the treatment. My pictus cats are covered in spots, breathing fast, and obviously stressed...but they were this way before I treated, from the ich, I'm sure. The other fish in the tank (listed in my sig) show no signs of spots.

I am doing another treatment tonight (24 hours) and am curious if I need to do a partial w/c with each treatment, or since I did such a large one last night, if I need to do a w/c before treatment at all?

Thanks for any help.

 

[steelhealr]

Hi Angie...I've had 2 successful ich treatments so far. I did daily 10% water changes; used Wardley's Ich Away (malechite green); raised temp to 81-85 degrees; removed carbon from the filter; treated for 2-3 days after the spots disappeared. Depending on your inhabitants, you may want to consider aquarium salt, tho', some here might say no. I used it since I didn't have any species at the time that may suffer from salt (clown loaches or corys). Good luck. SH

 

[GrullaQuarters]

Thanks for the reply!

I will do a small w/c with each treatment....I figured it couldn't hurt.

I will up the temp a little bit too...It's not THAT high, but I figured if I went too fast upping the temp, I might stress 'em out further.

Feel bad for my cats.....I hope they make it!

 

[steelhealr]

Hi..they should be Angie. The higher the temp, the quicker the life cycle of the ich organism. The difference between 5-10 degrees could shorten treatment time by days to weeks. Remember...the organism is killed when the spots 'disappear', ie, it leaves the spot on the fish to drop to the bottom of the tank and reproduce there. While on the fish and tank bottom, they are impervious to the treatment. Hence, treat for 2-3 days after the spots disappear. Reportedly, the organism can't survive in the free state for 2-3 days without 'latching on'. SH

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...keep me posted on how your fish are making out. SH