One Last Ich Question

[seb_negrete]

OK, as seen in a previous thread, i'm currently treating my tank for whitespot because i found a few spots on my dwarf gourami's fins. i'm treating with Super Ick Cure. Thing is that the treatment period ends today and he still has a few spots (pretty much the same... maybe slightly fewer than he did when i started treatment 4 days ago).
my question is this: should i just continue treatment until it clears up? (ie. add another dose today) or should i do the 50% water change today as stated on the packaging?

tank stats:
10G, 5 weeks old, 1 dwarf gourami, 4 zebra danios (all showing no signs of Ich)
pH=8.0, ammonia/nitrite=0, nitrate=10 (as of last time i tested my water, 4 days ago before starting treatment)

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Have you increased the tempature to at least 80F?

Ich treatment only works during the free swimming stage, which is after the spots have popped (and look like it's got better). I'd do a water change and then re-dose. It can take up to 21 days for the life cycle to be complete and for it to be properly gotten rid of but this can be sped up by increasing the tempature.

Hoovering the substrate can also help get the ich when it begins the free swimming stage.

HTH

 

[seb_negrete]

I have raised the temperature to about 82-84 and added a bit of salt. I may well just restart the treatment. i don't see that i have much choice.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

You have to treat more. It obviously hasn't gone anywhere as yet but this is pretty normal. As I said, the life cycle is 21 days and that's with a tempature increase. The fact that the treament only works at a very specific time shows that you should not worry but to a reasonable water change and treat more.

 

[seb_negrete]

the gourami started to look sickly for the first time last night and today. although he has fewer white spots he has become very inactive and is floating near the top and i didn't see him take any food this morning, even when it was right in front of him...
he really seems to have taken a turn for the worse. is it normal for fish to get worse before they get better or what?
i'm adding another dose of Ich medicine tonight but i'm really starting to worry about him.
any input would be appreciated

 

[tttnjfttt]

Look closely at the fish for signs of a secondary bacterial infection. Some signs of bacterial infections include "fungus" growing on them, white patches, whit elips, pop eye, and bloating. I usually see my fish get better when the spots disapear unless a secondary bacterial infection has set in.

Have you added any salt into your tank? 1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons (start wiht half of that) can sometimes help. Also, follow the directions on the ich meds, and only redose if the directions say to.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Also, follow the directions on the ich meds, and only redose if the directions say to.

I totally disagree, the vast majority of meds do not treat for long enough to go through the full life cycle. Treating the tank til the spots go will only make the ich 'return' in a more aggressive form (when actually it has never gone away).

Seb: Have you added or do you have an airstone in the tank? It doesn't sound great, I have to admit but I would just keep my fingers crossed that he makes it and keep and eyeon him and the other fish for the signs tttnjfttt told you about.

Good luck

 

[seb_negrete]

the only other fish in the tank are the danios and they appear to be as happy and active as ever with no visible signs of whitespot.
i've been keeping a very close eye on the gourami and i haven't observed any other signs of disease.

i have added salt to the tank (1tbsp/5gal).

i am redosing tonight because that is what is called for with the meds that i am using (2 doses, 48 hours each)

i have not added an airstone to the tank, however, i have reduced the water level so that the filter creates a good deal of bubbles when it dumps into the tank.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Also, follow the directions on the ich meds, and only redose if the directions say to.

I totally disagree, the vast majority of meds do not treat for long enough to go through the full life cycle. Treating the tank til the spots go will only make the ich 'return' in a more aggressive form (when actually it has never gone away).

When i read his post, i meant to not over-dose the meds, as in add more than what is recomended. I wasn't talking about how long the meds were in the tank for. I agree to extending the treatment, especially if there is signs of ich still in the tank.