Ich?

[Euston]

I'm on day 6 of treating for Ich and things don't appear to be getting better. If anything things seem to be getting worse.

My water stats are fine, I've had temp up to 30c+ for 6 days and I've done a course of Interpet anti white spot treatment.

This morning there's more fin quivering (it's just constant), rubbing more often and plenty more white spots appearing on fins and tail.

What's going on?

 

[term_22000]

I'm on day 6 of treating for Ich and things don't appear to be getting better. If anything things seem to be getting worse.

My water stats are fine, I've had temp up to 30c+ for 6 days and I've done a course of Interpet anti white spot treatment.

This morning there's more fin quivering (it's just constant), rubbing more often and plenty more white spots appearing on fins and tail.

What's going on?

Did you try adding some aquarium salt to the tank?

 

[anon02]

Did you give the gravel a good vaccing and do a big water change before you started the treatment ? Nitrogenous compounds can adversely affect malachite/formalin treatments. I would follow the instructions for a full course of treatment then give it 48 hours before doing a big gravel clean/water change and start a second course if you can still signs of the infestation

 

[targa66]

(I just started typing an answer and lost my connection so sorry if there's a double post...)

The ich parasite has several stages in its lifecycle, including one where it's free swimming (and invisible) and another when it's in cysts on the fishes' bodies (and that's when you can actually see it). The malachite/formalin treatment doesn't actually kill the parasite while it's in the visible/cyst stage on the fish - it kills it while it's free swimming. Therefore, your treatment could be working but it will have no effect on the things on the fish themselves.

There's a great article here (which explains it much better than me, and besides, I'm no expert!):

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

It emphasizes the fact that you've got to continue treatment throughout the whole lifecycle of the ich parasite, otherwise it will come back. That means treatment for several weeks, but the lifecycle can be shortened by raising the water temp. (The article addresses all this.)

Good luck!

 

[adgieman]

ditch the Interpet stuff i found it useless against it... i did 2 full courses with no improvement, lost 5 fish. Bought Esha exit and 2000 put both in for 2 courses and it was completly gone, noticably different within first 2 days, only had to do 2 courses due to the time the interpet stuff let it go on for!