eschaton
Fishaholic
Around three weeks ago I noticed the first bit of something I thought was Ich in my main tank on one adult female Endler and two mid-sized fry. I borrowed a 6.6 gallon tank my girlfriend wasn't using, set it up as a hospital tank (was uncycled, but stuck some cycled filter media in it in hopes that would be enough), and started treating the three fish for Ich. The two mid-sized fry got better, the female did not, and soon passed away. After a few days with no symptoms, I returned the ender's to the main tank - only to have round two start.
This time, a male Endler, Female Endler, mid-sized fry, my Siamese Algae Eater, and a Neon all were showing some symptoms. The SAE had been hiding for several days and the infection was quite advanced when I found him. The neon only had a small white spot (not even circular, just a white patch) on his tail. I think I may have inadvertently killed the neon because I read afterwards they are supposed to be dosed at half strength. Anyway, again the Endler's appear to clear up, so I put them back into the tank once again.
The other day I thought I saw Ich spots on one of my Otos. It was late at night and the tank had been unplugged/filter had been switched off on the hospital tank (long story, but the hospital tank wasn't cycling completely, and I cant put it on any of my other tanks in the meantime because all my tanks have inverts and plants in them). So I set up the hospital tank *again*, and when I looked in the morning, I couldn't discern any Ich at all on any of my Otos. I just chalked it up to perhaps the Oto having sand on him the night before (I had just been siphoning), and didn't think much of it.
Today it's clear that something is wrong with the tank, and getting worse, though it's unclear to me now if it's Ich. Many of the Endlers have ragged tail fins with small bits missing...something I've noticed more with the Neons as well. There's also small whitish patches on the tails, but except in one case, they aren't defined white bumps like Ich looks...and no sign of anything besides on the tail has happened at all. A few of my Boraras Merah have similar looking tail pathologies, as well as the neons. I think someone might be nippy in the tank, but it doesn't explain the white spots. One Neon had faded color today as well, but besides that and being skinny I don't see anything wrong with him.
All water readings are perfect. Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 5ish. As I said, I'm getting doubtful it is Ich (as the symptoms don't look that similar), and except in the case of SAE, it's not clear to me Ich was involved with the other two (stress from being moved from the tank/the partially uncycled hospital tank could have been the cause). Treating my main tank isn't an option, as I keep planted tanks with lots of inverts. I can't move a cycled filter onto the little tank either - it has a lid which only allows the original filter to fit, and without the lid on the tank doesn't retain a high enough temp to treat Ich. Compounding the problem, I have a Kuhli who always hides, and numerous small fish like Boraras sp. and Endler fry who it's very difficult to see just about anything on (would an Ich spot be smaller on a smaller fish)?
Help is much appreciated here.
This time, a male Endler, Female Endler, mid-sized fry, my Siamese Algae Eater, and a Neon all were showing some symptoms. The SAE had been hiding for several days and the infection was quite advanced when I found him. The neon only had a small white spot (not even circular, just a white patch) on his tail. I think I may have inadvertently killed the neon because I read afterwards they are supposed to be dosed at half strength. Anyway, again the Endler's appear to clear up, so I put them back into the tank once again.
The other day I thought I saw Ich spots on one of my Otos. It was late at night and the tank had been unplugged/filter had been switched off on the hospital tank (long story, but the hospital tank wasn't cycling completely, and I cant put it on any of my other tanks in the meantime because all my tanks have inverts and plants in them). So I set up the hospital tank *again*, and when I looked in the morning, I couldn't discern any Ich at all on any of my Otos. I just chalked it up to perhaps the Oto having sand on him the night before (I had just been siphoning), and didn't think much of it.
Today it's clear that something is wrong with the tank, and getting worse, though it's unclear to me now if it's Ich. Many of the Endlers have ragged tail fins with small bits missing...something I've noticed more with the Neons as well. There's also small whitish patches on the tails, but except in one case, they aren't defined white bumps like Ich looks...and no sign of anything besides on the tail has happened at all. A few of my Boraras Merah have similar looking tail pathologies, as well as the neons. I think someone might be nippy in the tank, but it doesn't explain the white spots. One Neon had faded color today as well, but besides that and being skinny I don't see anything wrong with him.
All water readings are perfect. Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 5ish. As I said, I'm getting doubtful it is Ich (as the symptoms don't look that similar), and except in the case of SAE, it's not clear to me Ich was involved with the other two (stress from being moved from the tank/the partially uncycled hospital tank could have been the cause). Treating my main tank isn't an option, as I keep planted tanks with lots of inverts. I can't move a cycled filter onto the little tank either - it has a lid which only allows the original filter to fit, and without the lid on the tank doesn't retain a high enough temp to treat Ich. Compounding the problem, I have a Kuhli who always hides, and numerous small fish like Boraras sp. and Endler fry who it's very difficult to see just about anything on (would an Ich spot be smaller on a smaller fish)?
Help is much appreciated here.
