Possible Ich And Bottom Sitting

[littlest]

I have an empty 3 gallon but no cycled filter for it and seems like a bad idea to put an already-ill fish into an uncycled tank. Also I'm not sure if I have a suitable heater.

Probably better to get a breeding trap? Will try and do that tomorrow.

The one being chased isn't acting ill or weak though. The weak one is being ignored by the others.
Also I'm pretty sure that the one being chased is female and the one doing the chasing is male, but surely he wouldn't attempt to breed in an ich-ridden tank. would he?

 

[WILDER]

I've heard guppys even try to mate when there on there last legs.
Yes they will still try to mate even if there is whitespot on the tank, some fish are sex mad. lol

 

[littlest]

well I got one in the breeding net. I originally tried to get the hiding one, but that one wasn't having any of it and was impossible to catch.
So I went for the one doing the chasing instead. At least that's the one I thought I got, but now I'm not so sure because the one outside the net is now flaring its fins at the one inside the net. The hiding one came out a bit and the other one outside the net flared its fins so the hiding one hid again.
Incidentally, if any of the other fish come near the hiding one when it's in its hiding place, it goes mad and chases them away. Seems pretty terrortorial.

At the moment I am not sure how much this is down to illness and how much is down to natural terrortorial behaviour. If it's the latter I may have some problems, but I can't take back or buy any new fish whilst I'm treating for ich anyway.

The torn fins seem to have repaired themselves and the white spots aren't visible on the fish anymore, but I know that doesn't mean the ich is gone. That's the annoying thing about this disease, How do you know when it's gone?

 

[WILDER]

Best once the spots have gone is to treat for another full week to make sure there gone.
If they carry on not getting along you will have to rehome the fish after the week of extra med.
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

 

[littlest]

well I'll keep treating and hope they resolve their differences in the meantime. I have read that it is best to keep a minimum of four sparkling gouramis to reduce aggression, so maybe the loss of one fish has thrown the balance of power off.

 

[WILDER]

Never rains but pours.
Then you buy some more and the old fish or the new fish don't get on, can't win sometimes.

 

[littlest]

My fish stilll have ich.
I used Octozin (waterlife) because many Ich products aren't safe with shrimp (of which I have three). The medication said to use on days 1,2 and 3. Which I did. I did a water change on day 7 and then started treatment again on days 1,2 and 3. Today is day 3 of the second lot of treatment and came home to see one of my fish with some brand new white spots

I am thinking of doing another water change and medicating with something else. Good idea? Any suggestions for ich products in the UK that are not harmful to shrimp? Or do you think it would be worth treating with salt? I know this forum is quite anti-salt for FW fish, but is it still valid as a treatment for ich?

btw. I rearranged the tank and the agression issues has lessened dramatically. A little chasing at feeding time but that's all at the moment.

 

[WILDER]

Change the med its not doing much.
Get the interpet whitespot one.
Good luck.

 

[littlest]

Do you have any idea if interpet No6 is safe with shrimp? I've googled it but can't find any conclusive answers or whether it contains copper (as many ich meds do)

 

[WILDER]

I would maybe remove the strimp into one of them little plastic tanks you can buy till the whitespot has gone.

 

[littlest]

Update: one of the remaining three fish died before I started the Interpet treatment (it died only a day after my last post).
Started the interpet treatment with the two remaining fish.
Both fish were hiding quite a bit and after a while one fish in particular was hardly ever around (though would come out ever now and again).
This fish died a few days ago, leaving me with one sparkling gourami.

The interpet treatment is dose on day one and day four, which I did. I then did a 50% water change. The remaining fish seems well. No white spots, much more active, has learnt what it means when I open the packet of fish food, feeding well etc.

Should I do another dose of Interpet Whitespot treatment though, in case there is still ich in other stages?

Also, how long after ich not being visibly present should I wait before adding new fish to this tank.

(btw, ammonia and nitrite have remained zero throughout. Not sure on nitrate, but it must be low since I've been doing 50% changes once a week)

 

[WILDER]

Best to treat an extra week once spots have gone.
Sorry for all your losses bless them R.I.P.
Good luck with the remaining fish.