Ich?

[Incitic]

I have just recently noticed a few spots on the fins of one of my clown loaches and some neons. I dont have medication and anywhere to quarantine them.

What should I do?

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Sorry to hear you've got this.

This hasn't happened to me before, but I've been advised that turning up the heating may help, or using a touch salt. Not an expert, but if you go to the Tropical Fish Emergencies section, I'm sure you'll find more useful information.

I'm sure some'll pick this up for you. Good luck.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

yeah crank up the heat to about 86F slowly (speeds up the ICHs lifespan) and add some aquarium salt (dosage on box) then if you can get your hands on a product called "quick cure" get some of that and add the dosage on the bottle (for neons), my gf's mom just went through an ich breakout and thats what we did to cure it (about 4 days and it was starting to go away), just be warned the quick cure will turn whatever you have in your tank blue and stain it so its best you take everything out and leave it bare (except the stones if their a dark colour and you wont notice), and if you can, get some kind of air in your tank because it is recommeded for the fish at the high temp, and if you have carbon in your filter take it out

hope it works out, ich's a pain in the ass

oh yeah theres supposed to be water changes done but i forgot how often and how much at a time, im almost positive it tells you on either the quick cure bottle or aquarium salt box

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Where possible, you should also medicate/sterilize any infected, and potentionally affected, tank accessories because who know's how long the Ich parasite is active for?

Once, you've put your tank together again, you should also consider setting up a regular cleaning, water change, and testing schedule/s. One of the other threads has also suggested better aeration may reduce the chance of this disease recurring.

Good luck.

 

[Incitic]

I just bought a med labelled 'Ich away' and have put the recomended dosage in (half due to the clown loaches). I've also cranked up the heat to 28c. Already it seems that some spots have gone, however one of the loaches still sometimes sits on the gravel motionless.

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Carry on with the medication, do water changes, keep the heating constant, increase aeration, and provide them with food.

 

[Incitic]

Just wondering, is it possible for fish to die from white spot?

 

[tstenback]

Sorry to say but, Yes. Fish can die from anything that stresses them and ICH certainly fits into that category. However, with quick intervention we can often limit the losses. remember to vac the bottom of the tank as this is where the cysts will fall. HTH

 

[jvis0606]

I've been treating Ich for a couple of days.. all of the spots went away one day, but the next day 2-3 more appeared. Why does this happen, isn't the medication supposed to prevent further spots?

 

[jaywings19]

I've been treating Ich for a couple of days.. all of the spots went away one day, but the next day 2-3 more appeared. Why does this happen, isn't the medication supposed to prevent further spots?

Just because the spots disappear from the fish doesn't mean it's all gone. Actually, you have to solve the problem when the white spots fall off... not when they're attached.

Read this article for a full explanation of Ich:

http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7092

 

[Incitic]

The reason the spots came back is because when the spots fall off the fish they then form cysts on the aquirium floor, which in time, burst and create more parasites to infect the fish. Only at this stage they can be affected by the medication.

All the spots on all my fish are gone except for one of the loaches, it has a very visible white spot on its top fin. It gave me a real scare then where I turned to see it upside down on the gravel, it quickled wiggled its fin and regained balance. Every other fish seems fine and healthy except for this one who occasionally just stops and becomes motionless on the gravel. Im worried about him.

-EDIT-
Pics:

 

[Incitic]

Ok apparently that behavior is perfectly normal for a clown loach. Just like how it sleeps on its side.

 

[Incitic]

Ok, Ich has come back and its worse now. The fish have more spots than they used to but havent shown any difference in behavoir.

1. How long can Ich last?

2. Can the disease slow fish or make them tired? Also, can fish become tired from lack of sleep (I usually get up at 9 and go to bed at 12, do fish need more sleep (turning the light on and off))?

3. Is a carbon filter a special add on filter or is it that removable cartiridge thing in my hang-on filter? If so, do I remove it?

Thanks.

 

[jvis0606]

You're supposed to treat for Ick for 10-12 days. If you are treating for Ich, you need to remove the carbon from your filter, so I wouldnt worry about it now. Use the carbon filter to remove meds from your tank.

Not sure what your removable cartridge is, but my filter is a combined filter with carbon in it.

 

[Incitic]

http/www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_filters_pads.asp?CartId=

Its like that but with a plastic black backing to it. So far I have administerd 2 doses of medication. According to the page that removes all impurities from the water including meds.

I think I've screwed up.

HELP!!!!!