Platies With White Spot (I Think!)

[fluffycabbage]

All my platies have developed whitespot - i noticed it yesterday evening, theyve already had their first dose of treatment.
Its weird though coz its only on the platies, not on any of the other fish?? Is there a reason for that?


Can someone please confirm that it IS whitespot too? Thanks

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Yep, that is whitespot.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Thanks - at least im treating them for the right ailment then!

 

[OldMan47]

You definitely have an ich infestation in that tank. Have a read of the article that I link to in my signature area. It is called ich info in my link and will help you understand what you are dealing with and the options for treatment. It will also help you avoid the most common error dealing with ich, stopping the treatment when the parasites look like they are gone.

 

[fluffycabbage]

You definitely have an ich infestation in that tank. Have a read of the article that I link to in my signature area. It is called ich info in my link and will help you understand what you are dealing with and the options for treatment. It will also help you avoid the most common error dealing with ich, stopping the treatment when the parasites look like they are gone.

Thanks for that, made for interesting reading
The temp in the tank is up to 86 degrees now. The fish seem ok, though more around the filter and the bottom than normal. No obvious probs with respiration. No less white spot but no more. Bubble bar is turned right up. 2nd dose of Protozin tomorrow. Ideally i'd have given them a salt bath, but i have the loach and corys, and i believe that it would be bad for them? Is that right?

Is there anything else i could be doing now to help?

 

[mtv8dmarine]

When I finally kicked the Ich a few months ago I used slightly elevated temps. and aquarium salt alone. While not all of my fish took to the salt well, my Corys seemed to be the only fish that never got Ich and didn't suffer with the salt. Though they did frequently dart to the surface for air when the temp. was raised. I lost at least one of every fish I had except for the Corys through the whole multiple battle ordeal. They really are resilient little fish, at least in my experience with them in this regard. I can't speak for the loach because I don't have any experience with them.

 

[OldMan47]

I have never used anything but salt and heat in the last 15 years or so. In a treatment concentration, most fish will tolerate salt better than they tolerate many of the other medications that are used.

 

[fluffycabbage]

ok the mollies were on the bottom a lot yesterday but theyre fine today.corys i dont know, cant see them platies are ok albeit a bit slower than usual, a couple of them their back fin isnt fanned out - does that mean something? Loach is fine. A couple of the pregnant platies are still staying right next to the filter inlet (maybe a bit cooler?)
The white spots (cant remember their proper name) have almost dropped off, not quite though.
Advice?

 

[OldMan47]

Don't stop treating just because the spots are gone. The parasites can live a couple of days after all the spots are gone. If you don't treat at least 3 days after the last spot is gone your ich infestation will be back.

 

[fluffycabbage]

oh dont worry, im not stopping the treatment! i was just wondering about the temp. some of the fish look a little happier to day, others not so. i guess its for the best though eh.

Q - after ive finished the protozin, what shall i do? add some carbon and a big water change? or just leave the water with the trace meds in it? give them salt?

 

[OldMan47]

Once your treatment period is complete, start bringing the temperature down. I am sure your medication came with instructions for its use so I would follow that. If you had been using salt you just do normal water changes and each time the concentration comes down lower but I do not know the right way to do your medication. There is no reason to add any salt if you have had an effective cure.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Thanks