Help... Ich That Won't Shift..

[alx]

Hi,

I have been keeping fish for about 3yrs or so, and upto now have never had a problem with any illnesses.. However, I recently setup a new tank, once all the levels were right and I had slowly moved my existing fish over, I decided to get a few more fish..

long story short, I bought some neons from a LFS (that I would not normally use) as my local maidenhead aquatic had sold out, and I think they introduced Ich to my tank. I also have a pair of new clown loaches. Now I suspect that the neons were the problem, and these have now gone.. I have been treating the whitespot for about 2 weeks, and all the fish are fine, apart from one of my clown loaches who can't seem to shift the spots.. I have been using interpet no.6

Now do I need to try a different treatment, or does he need to go ? (I really don't know what I would do with him, but by the same token, I don't want the rest of my fish infecting again).. Could this fish be responsible for bringing the whitespot to the party, and hence he is the one that can't shift it ??

I have read up on this as much as I can, and have added the treatment in hot water, and upped the heater to 29.. but this loach is still not a happy bunny..

any help would be much appreciated !

 

[Davo86]

Hi alx, do you know the current water parameters?

turning up the temp in the tank should help, how long ago was this done?

 

[alx]

Hi alx, do you know the current water parameters?

turning up the temp in the tank should help, how long ago was this done?

water temp was increased 2 over a week ago..

will test the water agin tomorrow...

 

[Davo86]

Hi alx, do you know the current water parameters?

turning up the temp in the tank should help, how long ago was this done?

water temp was increased 2 over a week ago..

will test the water agin tomorrow...

ok, clown loach are very sensitive fish that are prone to whitespot so it may just take slightly longer for them to recover,
I would continue treating with the interpet 6 and keep lighting in the tank to a minimum (unless you have live plants) as this is also said to help them recover.

 

[Spooky76]

Clowns are so sensitive they can develop white spot just from being moved from one tank to another and getting stressed. Also they are scaleless fish, so if advised half the dosage for them.

I had so many problems with Ich and clowns for about a yr. If my water went out slightly or they got too stressed etc, bang...out comes the white spot. I tried all the treatments around, and the only one that ever seemed to work was King British Ws3.

I then got a UV for the tank, and touch wood, not had any ich since (8 months). Clowns are a lovely fish, hope they are getting better.

 

[Andy7000]

Don't half the dose in interpet no.6. I spoke to interpet when some of my loaches had ich and they said the loaches shouldn't be adversely affected to this treatment as long as it is administered as directed. I have even added a little extra before with no side effects, but this is not really good practise.

Waterlife say you should half the treatment of protozin with loaches, but Protozin contains different chemicals that will effect loaches.

I also fed my fish often and little when they had white spot. Feeding one daily portion can weaken their imune systems when they are trying to digest a lot of food and fighting Ich.

Hope you manage to get it sorted, can be a pain sometimes.


P.S. As Spooky mentioned, u.v sterilizers are great for prevention if you have loaches or any delicate fish. I've got one and I'll always use one now.


oops, just seen the date.

 

[Daveyg1969]

Clown loaches are a nightmare for this, my local LFS tells me he adds a dose of Protozin to a tank of recently purchased clown loaches as a precaution.