Betta With Ich

[Nightfall]

Tank size/Conditions:
Recently, my 6G Betta tank has undergone a spike with the addition of a small Siamese Flying Fox to the tank to control algae. Ammonia went as high as .25 and Nitrite was at .25 as well. NitrAte was 10. Previously, the water had consistently tested at 0/0/10. I use the API master test kit, so the results should be accurate. I did a 60% water change yesterday upon testing the water. I tested today and the readings were slightly lower, with the Ammonia reading at 0 and the Nitrite somewhere between 0 and .25. I did another 40% change today, and will test in the morning.
Because of a terrible heatwave we're experiencing (temps of over 42C/109F and I'm without air conditioning) my water temperatures have been between 25-30C without lights or heaters on. I've increased the filter flow in all my tanks (including adding an airstone to the one hardest hit) to increase movement in the water to try to lower the temperature but I'm not sure what else I can do to help.

Behavior Changes:
I noticed my Betta, Alexander, was much less active as well. Lying on plants is a normal part of his behaviour, but he's been hiding in the log cave and under the driftwood as well as resting on the bottom of the tank. His breathing seems normal and so is his appetite. I haven't seen any rubbing or flashing.

I did a 60% water change yesterday upon testing the water. I tested today and the readings were slightly lower, with the Ammonia reading at 0 and the Nitrite somewhere between 0 and .25. I did another 40% change today, and will test in the morning.


I am 99% sure that he has Ich. Unfortunately my good camera is broken and there is no way my iphone could capture the tiny white bumps on him. I've seen Ich before but the white spots look very round so I wanted to check here before I started treatment. I recently brought in the Siamese Flying Fox, and even though I did isolate him for a couple of weeks it's possible the disease was brought in with the new anubias I added to the tank last week.

I have Melafix, Indian Almond Leaf and aquarium salt. How should I proceed?

I am very concerned because I've read Ich only responds to treatment in its free-swimming form. Alexander is a darling little guy and I would be absolutely devastated if anything happened to him so I really want to wipe this out.

 

[the_lock_man]

Melafix is a bacterial medication, and will be useless against the ich parasite. You are quite right that they are only vulnerable when in the free swimming stage.

I have never used the salt method for ich, so can't advise you on the dosage strength. I have used proprietory medications (specifically Protozin by Waterlife) successfully on two occasions against ich. Either way you go, up the temperature in the tank to 28-30C in order to speed up the life cycle of the parasite.

 

[Nightfall]

You're right about the Melafix, it's been so long since I've needed to use it I'd forgotten what it treated. I have some malachite green on hand but I'm not sure if it's used for Ich and I'm loathe to use such a potent treatment. I am not a fan of needlessly dosing with harsh medications, which is why I'm asking for advice.

Directions for salt dosages are pretty varied. Some say a tablespoon for every 5 gallons (a teaspoon if you have algae eaters in the tank, which I do) and others say a teaspoon per 4 liters, which is a lot more. I played it safe and added a teaspoon into his water, I can always change to take it out or add in more. The tank is currently reading 32C/84F so that should help the lifecycle speed up. The tank has consistently been at about 30C so hopefully that's helped to control it. He doesn't have many spots on him at all so I'm hoping the number decreases rather than increasing.

I'll go to the LFS as soon as possible to get a medication in case it's needed. I'm in Australia so I don't know which meds we have access to. I've never had a white spot outbreak before.

ETA: I finally got a good look at the Fox (he's always zooming around, it's hard to study him) and he has two spots on his fins, so he definitely needs to be treated too.

 

[Nightfall]

I've spent ages searching and can't find any real consensus on the proper amount of salt for treating Ich. For now I haven't added any more salt, but I am soaking blood worms in garlic-infused water to help boost their immune systems. I've seen one of my foxes eating discarded shrimp shells so I'm hoping the fox will be tempted by some nice garlicky worms.

 

[fishychick77]

when you do water changes if you have a gravel vaccum it will help alot when doing water changes it gets alot of junk out thats really where the parasites and bactieria live