Khuli Loaches And Ich! - Help!

[Nerwign]

I added 4 new Khuli loaches to my tank last week and today my fish have the tell-tale signs of ich!

I know that khuli's need cool temperatures, but ich is best treated with an increase in temperature. My temp is currently 76F, should I raise it to 80 and put some ich medication in? Should I not raise the temp at all and medicate it?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tank: 50G US
1 beta
4 leopard danios
3 checkered barbs
4 khuli loaches
1 hillstream loach


-Nerwign

 

[daspricey]

I know that khuli's need cool temperatures

not ture they are tropical, so are is the betta, the other fish you have are sub tropical, although they will bo ok for a while but not long.

i would keep the temp where it is, if you raise it the sub trops will struggle. i've not had to use white spot med for years so don't know which one is the best.

david

 

[mlawson]

Loaches can sometimes be at risk from ich medications and sometimes
manufacturers state that you must add half a dose. But read the
instructions fully as this may not be the case.


Mike

 

[Nerwign]

I bought some medication on Saturday night, and raised the temp yesterday slightly (around 78-79). I forgot that the checkered barbs and danios like it cool too so when I go home today I will lower it again to 76.

The medication I got recomends using a half dose for loaches so for a 50gal tank, I lowered the water volume enough that the filter output splashes water on the surface so there will be more oxygen, and to take into account for substrate etc, I added 20 drops (full strength is 1 drop per gal).

So far the fish seem ok. I've seen the loaches out hanging from the plant limbs more. I thought one was dead yesterday but when I went to scoop him up he swam away.

I am worried about them, but I didn't see large numbers of spots so I hope they are all able to overcome this and the medication catches the critter at the proper stage to take it out.

-Nerwign

PS I have read conflicting information on the Khuli's. Some say they are fine into the low 80s, but many other sources say that they should be in the mid 70s and can only tollerate low 80s for short periods of time. How can I find more accurate information?