Ick and Ick Again

[LongNY]

I'm sure that my fish have Ick. The parasite appears on a fish...then drops off.... only 2 out of 15 fish have the spots..... I have Tiger Barbs, Red Tail Sharks, and a Pleco in my tank.... So far only the Tiger Barbs are showing the ick...... I've raised the temperature to 88-90 degrees hoping to avoid adding medication..... but 3 days later it is still appearing on a few Tiger Barbs. I haven't added any salt because I believe it is bad for the Sharks and the Pleco. The 88 degrees has not seemed to bother the Pleco even though it should be stressful on it..... What can I do.... I'm doing a 25% water change everyday, vacuuming the gravel during the change and keeping the temp at 88-90 degrees. I've not lost any fish yet, but there is a TB that has the most specs and does look weary...... the other TB"s though are scraping themselves on the live plants....Can anyone help.... thanks John NYC

 

[tttnjfttt]

Can you please post your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?

Also, 90 degreese sounds REALLY high. The theory is ich can't survive above 85, so turn the temp down to 86. Also, add an air stone to help increase the oxygen.

If the fish are getting worse and the disease isn't going away, it may be necessary to medicate the fish. Since the tiger barbs seem to be the ones affected, why not put them into your hospital tank and medicate them in there (I'm assuming you are avoiding meds because of your plants).

 

[LongNY]

Thanks for the info...... My water is purrrr-fect..... Ammonia and NitrItes are zero, NitrAtes are 20..... and PH is 6.5. I will reduce the temp.... thought the higher the temp the better to kill off the ick ) .... I'm giving it another day with water changes and vacuuming the gravel, then I'll either medicate or set up a hospital tank.... Also didn't know that medications for Ick are bad for live plants. I was avoiding medication because I thought it would be bad for the pleco and the 2 red tail sharks... yes?..... Thanks for all the help.... John NYC

 

[IMCL85]

medicine r always bad for any fish. They r chemical. In whild fish will never have any problem such as at home. If possible remove them from ur main tank and take water from ur main to ur q tank like about 75% water from main and 25% new. And cure them there raise temperature to arround 84-86 and add medicine. When I have ich I only use raise temperature methor and it clear in about 4-5 days. Good luck

 

[tttnjfttt]

Medicine can be hard on scaleless fish (ie the pleco), which is why some meds say to use half a dose. At the same time, you need to remember that some times, they are a necessary evil. Right now, you have done everything possible to treat this without meds, and it hasn't worked.

And just for the record, fish in the wild do get sick, and some times even with the same illnesses that we see. I know I have seen columnaris listed as a problem some fish face in the wild. However, they end up dying.

 

[LongNY]

Making 25% water changes twice a day...morning and night....while vacuuming the gravel....have the water Temp at 86 degrees..... resisting adding medication, but can I add salt? Will my redtail sharks (2), and 2" pleco be able to deal with the salt?

 

[tttnjfttt]

no, don't add salt. The pleco can't tollerate salt.

 

[IMCL85]

no dont do that much twice daily 25% change is way too much. Offen will stress the fish. 2-3 day per 25% change is better.

 

[tttnjfttt]

no dont do that much twice daily 25% change is way too much. Offen will stress the fish. 2-3 day per 25% change is better.

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In general, it is ok to do water changes twice a day, as long as they are spaced out enough for the fish to aclimate to the new water. Eventually, the water in the tank will match your tap water (no nitrates), so the fish won't even notice the change.

 

[LongNY]

Water qualities are perfect...will proceed with caution on the water changes.... and will NOT add salt..... thanks John NYC

 

[yuedarklord]

you can put salt with pleco! I'll been puttin salt! The pleco is happy (11") !

use treatment mang, Rid-Ich (Kordon), the ich will be gone in 2 days.

drop your temp down.

I keep my temp at 80-82 only cause i have an arowana. But usually i go for 75-77, best bet. pH 6.8-7.

use Rid-Ich (Kordon) this is jesus in a bottle

 

[julibob]

It is my understanding that no scaleless fish can tolerate salt, including plecos and especially corys (incorrect advice from another source caused me to kill my 2 pygmy corys and bristlenose plec by adding salt for ich). I always try other methods before resorting to meds, but when I do I use Protozoin (half doses when scaleless fish are present) and Melafix together which usually works very well.

Julia

 

[LongNY]

Thanks to everyone who helped my by giving me advice...

I used no meds..... I originally had my water temp up to 88-90, but lowered it to 86 degrees (30c), I did NOT add salt due to the Pleco, I did 25% water changes every 4 days and did this for 10 days..... The ick is gone!!! I did have a casualty....I lost 1 Tiger Barb... other than that all is well. John NYC

 

[playfulalliecat]

Most people do say plecos can't tolerate salt........but, I have had salt in a tank in the past and they thrived. You don't want enough salt to make the water brackish. I think that is where the confusion comes into play. At this time, I don't use salt and haven't for a very long time. I also have had no illness to give me a reason to use salt. I really don't think in small amounts salt is harmful, I have known too many people who have used it.

Hopefully, you ich is gone. Keep a close eye on your fish as part of the lifecycle of ich is to fall off the fish and lay dormant. It could come back. Ich has a long life cycle which is why so many people keep having problems after they see no more signs.

I have an article on ich's life cycle, treatment options, etc. I will try to dig it out later this afternoon and pass it along.

Good luck!

 

[LongNY]

Thanks for your help....

Everyone is doing fine so far .... but I understand the life cycle of Ich and it's the first thing I look for after feeding time....

I just happy that at this point I have used no meds... only raised the temp.

John NYC