Pleco With Ich

[Luzi]

I've just got a new bristly, which had been in a tank with something that nipped its fins. He seems to have a little finrot, which I treated with esha2000.
BUT I've just noticed a few spots on him which look exactly like ich He's eating fine but I think I've seen him flick a few times.

The tank temperature is low (22*C). Is there any way I can treat him individually without having to dose the whole tank?
I was thinking of a salt bath - how well do plecs cope?

 

[fluttermoth]

The white spots are cysts, caused by a worm like creature, so if one of your fish has it you're better off treating the whole tank. I know BNs are tough little guys, but you're honestly better off shelling out for a proper med rather than using salt baths; no plecs deal with salt well.

I recommend eSHa exit if you can get it; I treated my tank with a Royal Whiptail that's our pride and joy in with it last year and she was fine.

 

[Luzi]

I'm not sure if i'll be able to get hold of the esha, not many shops sell it in the UK.
Since only 1 fish has it so far, and he's only been in for a day, would raising the temperature help? There are platies in the tank with him, but i don't know how high they can tolerate. Apparently 32* kills Ich, but does it kill fish too?

 

[fluttermoth]

Higher temperatures don't kill the ich; it just speeds up its life cycle (which is useful as you can kill the parasite only when it's in the free-swimming phase). You still need to add either salt or a medication to the tank to kill it, and because of the BN I'd recommend you use a med rather than the salt. If you can't get exit then one of the others will do; there's not much differenve in any of them IMO.

 

[Luzi]

I'll see if i can get hold of some meds tomorrow.

I've just realised I didn't take out the carbon for the esha2000! It has a LOT of bacteria growing on it. Will taking it out damage the filter?

 

[fluttermoth]

It depends how much of the filter it's taking up. Most likely it's used up now anyway, but you will waste your time medicating if it isn't, so it will have to come out anyway.