I just watched the video mentioned previously in this thread. Most of his information is accurate, but there are some things to keep in mind. The first is, that the "symptoms" of ich he gives are all symptoms of ich and other issues, and sometimes willnot be seen with ich. This is one of the reasons diagnosing fish disease is so difficult. We cannot ask the fish this or that, and fish flashing for example can be symptomatic of gill flukes, ich, velvet, ammonia, nitrite, high nitrate, toxic substances in the water...etc. Fish approaching the surface also can mean almost any of these, or normal.
As for the recommended "medications," which he says were provided by the sponsor of the video...Ich-X is one of the worst products to use with characins and Corydoras. It contains malachite green and formaldehyde. Never use this on these species. I believe Malachite green may be carcenogenitic, Colin can confirm.
It is true as he says that increasing the temperature is not manageable for all fish, and some plants. But when the fish can manage the increased temperature to 86F--and cories certainly can, I have done this with my group of wild caught cories--it is far safer.
I cannot speak for the shrimp, another member with shrimp experience will have to weigh in. But I can assure you that shrimp will be seriously impacted by Ich-X.
As a general comment, there is a very dangerous attitude in this hobby that as soon as something seems out of the ordinary, the best thing is to dump in this or that. In most cases, if not all cases, this is the worst thing you can do. The fish are already under stress, they do not need more. Clean water--do some water changes--can sometimes be all it takes.
As for the recommended "medications," which he says were provided by the sponsor of the video...Ich-X is one of the worst products to use with characins and Corydoras. It contains malachite green and formaldehyde. Never use this on these species. I believe Malachite green may be carcenogenitic, Colin can confirm.
It is true as he says that increasing the temperature is not manageable for all fish, and some plants. But when the fish can manage the increased temperature to 86F--and cories certainly can, I have done this with my group of wild caught cories--it is far safer.
I cannot speak for the shrimp, another member with shrimp experience will have to weigh in. But I can assure you that shrimp will be seriously impacted by Ich-X.
As a general comment, there is a very dangerous attitude in this hobby that as soon as something seems out of the ordinary, the best thing is to dump in this or that. In most cases, if not all cases, this is the worst thing you can do. The fish are already under stress, they do not need more. Clean water--do some water changes--can sometimes be all it takes.
