White Spot

Neon Squid · Feb 26, 2011

I was just looking for some advice at my current stage of trying to treat my tank.

Basically the tank has been white spot free since December until introducing some platys and gold dust mollys on tuesday. The yellow molly broke out in white spot first, it may even have had very small spots when I got it but it wasn't until it was under the strong artificial light that I was able to see the beginning of the spots forming. The following morning (Wednesday) the spots were much more visible. I rushed out and bought some King British Orginal Formula WS3 which I added the appropriate dosage right away. I've also been doing water changes to keep the water as fresh a possible. All new water going in is treated with tetra AquaSafe.

Some questions I'd like to know the answers to would be:

Should I be re-treating the water I'm replacing into the tank with the WS3 Formula each time I change the water or should I wait 5-7 days and just administer another full dose to the tank?

Is it worth separating the molly which is covered in the spots? (Some other fish are already swimming up against plants appearing to itch and scratch, as well as some very small spots I've seen on other mollys.) I'd of separated them sooner but the heater for my second tank only came today so it's not been an option.

Is my tank now infected? Is there a standard procedure I should be taking now or when the fish have healed or died?

Any other advice or help would be great! I want to do my best to save my fish and that I'm educated how to take the matter on if it should happen again. As of now with all my efforts in the treatment of the gold dust molly doesn't seem to be helping as each morning it looks more tatty with white spot.

Many thanks,

Craig

karin · Feb 26, 2011

Neon Squid said:
I was just looking for some advice at my current stage of trying to treat my tank.

Some questions I'd like to know the answers to would be:

Should I be re-treating the water I'm replacing into the tank with the WS3 Formula each time I change the water or should I wait 5-7 days and just administer another full dose to the tank?

Don't know the medication but follow directions precisely. Two links below should help you. You do need to keep the medication steady in the tank though, so no water changes unless called for by the medication directions.

Is it worth separating the molly which is covered in the spots? (Some other fish are already swimming up against plants appearing to itch and scratch, as well as some very small spots I've seen on other mollys.) I'd of separated them sooner but the heater for my second tank only came today so it's not been an option.

No, don't separate now. If other fish are flashing (itching) it is likely that they are in the early stages.

Is my tank now infected? Is there a standard procedure I should be taking now or when the fish have healed or died?

Yes, assume the entire tank is affected or infected and treat it accordingly. After the medication, a good maintenance regime of water changes and good quality food. Oh and if they died get rid of them quickly.

Any other advice or help would be great! I want to do my best to save my fish and that I'm educated how to take the matter on if it should happen again. As of now with all my efforts in the treatment of the gold dust molly doesn't seem to be helping as each morning it looks more tatty with white spot.

Lots of us have had to deal with ich. Part of fish keeping. IMO it comes in with new fish and that is just hard to control sometimes. Ich has a dormiant stage so sometimes there are no outward signs for a while and then wham! Best thing is to have a quarantine tank to keep new fish for 2-4 weeks. I don't but know I'm taking a risk. Chalk this up to experience. You will get through it.