New Fish Has Ich...what Should I Do?

[blur411]

So I'm an idiot of a number of reasons....I've been looking for female guppies (which surprisingly have been hard to come by) because I have 1 female and 5 males...and I didn't want her to be chased to death.

So, I found a store today that had a ton of females, I bought 5 of them and left the store, (which closed 15 minutes after I left). I got in the car, and my boyfriend was driving I noticed small white spots on most of the fish, I'm assuming this is Ich?

So, now what do I do? I don't have a quarantine tank...and I probably don't want to put these fish in my tank right? My tank temp is about 78-82 degrees F, and I heard that it can't spread in that but I don't want to risk it. Any advice?

 

[shi24137]

Get a 2L bottle, put the fish in there, treat them, float it in the tank to keep them warm.

 

[Mauigirl]

I would not float. risky. temporary quarnatine would be best but you have no way to do so..
I would , and it sounds horrible. maybe put into a Tupperware with a air stone , possibly change the water with some tank water, or dechlorinated,as needed to survive the night, and return asap. DO not introduce into your existing tank in any way or even close.
So sad for the new fish but they are a potential tank decimating introduction..

Good early catch, protect the existing stock is my advice,

Treating ich can be a battle, infected fish , then free swimmers ( this is when you can kill it) and a repeat over and over.. don't risk it.

 

[blur411]

Thanks for the replies...since I can't return the fish...and the thought of flushing alive fish sounded horrible...I sucked it up and went and bought a quarantine setup, I figured I should have one anyways...might as well do it now. So I set up the tank, with filter media (no charcoal. though since it nulls the medication) and added some medication to the tank...I have it set up with the fish in there now, and the heater and filter...I don't know if it will kill the ich...but I'll give them a few weeks in there with the medication..should I add salt too? I read I should slowly increase the temp, so that it hangs around 80 degrees F.

 

[Mauigirl]

Thanks for the replies...since I can't return the fish...and the thought of flushing alive fish sounded horrible...I sucked it up and went and bought a quarantine setup, I figured I should have one anyways...might as well do it now. So I set up the tank, with filter media (no charcoal. though since it nulls the medication) and added some medication to the tank...I have it set up with the fish in there now, and the heater and filter...I don't know if it will kill the ich...but I'll give them a few weeks in there with the medication..should I add salt too? I read I should slowly increase the temp, so that it hangs around 80 degrees F.

Ok, So for now seing as I cannot answer those questions totally I would, until a more seasoned response comes, use a use a bit of your mature media in the new filter. 1/3 removed at most, don't risk the existing!. yes no charcoal. Dose, and follow the directions, for now, better advice soon to follow.
Your post history directs you as a already somewhat learned keeper.. great choice to segregate the the in question fish,

 

[CezzaXV]

Any particular reason you can't return the fish? It's what I would do.

Also, for future reference you ideally want a M:F ratio of at least 1:3 with guppies if you're going to have females, to avoid the females being harassed too much by the sex mad males.

 

[blur411]

The fish store does not take returns on livestock, thats why I couldn't return them. The guppies are still alive today in the new QT. One had some fry, I have a few hiding places in there but I'm not going to try super hard to save the fry. I'll do water tests and such with this tank even though I put the media in there, just to make sure it is good. I hope I can save these guys, I felt so bad for them. I just wont be buying from that store again, it was too dark in there to really notice the spots until I was out in the sun light.