Ich

[Zanne]

Today is my 3rd day for treating ich. Of all the tank mates, only the danios are showing signs.

I started on day 1 by slitting the filter cartridge (Penguin 170 Biowheel) and removing the carbon. I treated with Ich Clear tablets on day 1 and 2 (active ingredient is labeled as Victoria Green) following the instructions and halving the dosage for the tetras, loaches, and cory. On day 2 and 3, I did a 25% water change and gravel cleaning. I increased the temperature to about 82 degrees to help speed the cycle. On day 3, I used Quick Cure at half dosage (containing malachite green).

Today, the spots on the danios are much reduced. Only one still has a few spots on his fin and tail. All the fish seem to be tolerating the treatment okay and are eating well.

I've read many of the articles on ich and one mentioned treating for something like 10 days. Is this correct or should I just treat until the symptoms are gone or one day past this? I'm concerned about overmedicating the tank for too long a time. Should I continue doing the 25% water changes before adding new medication? Is there anything else that I should know that I haven't mentioned.

It's been about 15 years since I had my last fish tanks and reminders of what I' may have forgotten or may have changed will be helpful!

Water params:
ph 7.8
kh 180 ppm
gh 75 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
Nitrate 20 ppm
Ammonia 0 ppm

 

[Zanne]

New Development


My boyfriend woke me up this morning to let me know that a Neon Tetra was dying. I got up and checked him and he was definitely right.

The poor thing had lost its color especially going grey near the dorsal fin and had what looked like whitish areas under the skin near the dorsal fin. He could barely swim and was gasping for breath. He'd swim facing directly upright or completely down and then would get tumbled along with the water from the HOB filter. When he finally ended up gasping on a plant leaf, I put him out of his misery.

I'm concerned that it might be the meds or else NTD. Another neon appears in distress also. He has the grey coloration and doesn't appear to be eating. His breathing is also labored.

The water params are fine. Basically same as yesterday. The ich is not fully gone from the danios so I did a 25% water change again and medicated. I'm sincerely hoping that it isn't the medicine that is causing the distress.

I probably should have posted this in the Fish Emergencies section, however yesterday it wasn't really an emergency and was just a question.

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

 

[LoveMyOscar]

...

 

[Phantom Thief]

It still best to put in meds, and temperature should be increased. However, neons are delicate, and this may be too much for them. However, you say the red area has been whitening. I do not know if this is because it was dying, but it may be Neon Tetra Disease.

P.T.

 

[Zanne]

The temp has been set to 82 degrees for several days. The danios still show a few signs of ich, but it is much less than it had been.

The danios do not seem ill or bothered except for the white ich spots. Two of the neons (I believe the 2 that I have had for over 2 years) look and act fine. One is just hanging around near the bottom of the tank. The red and blue lines seem normal on all of them. The one that stays alone appears to be a darker grey above the blue line and there are two whitish spots that appear to be under the skin. These spots are about half the size of a pea in diameter.

I've only had the 2 (now 1) new neon for about 2 weeks and they really never did shoal much with the original 2 although on occasion they would hang out. The other 2 neons will come over and visit the lone one like they are trying to see if he's okay, but then they go off swimming and playing on thier own.

At the moment I plan on doing another water change of about 25% tomorrow and will probably stop the medications.

I am worried that this could be Neon Tetra Disease but I can't tell for certain. If it is, I really don't want anyone else in the tank to get it.