My coldies have the ICH

[Cheese Specialist]

I am not sure. I know that ich thrives more in coldwater but I am not sure you should heat the water.

Not to be a poophead, but ich doesn't really "thrive" in cold water. The benefit to increasing the temperature is that the life cycle turnover rate is increased, which means you can get the ich to a free-swimming life stage more quickly. This is the point at which salt and/or medications are the most effective, which is why raising hte temp works.

In all honesty, they could be considered thriving in warmer water, because if they were to proliferate unchecked by meds or salt, and had an endless supply of stressed out fish to infect, they would be able to shorten generational time and increase ich total biomass in warmer water, resulting in more ich, not less.

In that case everything I have read on the disease, other than the above is wrong.

 

[cation]

Can't help you with that. You should perhaps pick your reading material more carefully.



Besides the reading I've done on it and the 400-level invertebrate class I am currently taking, I have a Biology degree and am working on a second. I can tell you for a fact, there are very few biological processes that do not increase in speed when heated, and very few that do not slow down when colder. You don't have to listen or believe me if you don't want to, that's your perogative. I'm just trying to help.

 

[wetwetwet]

I'd say to a certain extent you are both correct....

Yes raising the temp will speed up the life cycle and therefore make meds more effective - Though not advisable for your cold water tank - Raising the temp even further to around 30 C will effectively kill the parasite - Though again not advisable unless the species you keep can handle these temerature!...

There is undoubtably a temp range between cold and and upto the 30 C mark where the parasite will thrive but what that is idk

 

[BIGMAC]

You are not being a pest, and it's no problem!

Keep me updated if you have time.

Hi again,the latest update is my weather loach is dead and one of the commets is looking really poor,the fish are still coverd in the whit spot,i am just keeping a close eye on them.Should i do any water tests when there is medication added to the water or not?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

You are not being a pest, and it's no problem!

Keep me updated if you have time.

Hi again,the latest update is my weather loach is dead and one of the commets is looking really poor,the fish are still coverd in the whit spot,i am just keeping a close eye on them.Should i do any water tests when there is medication added to the water or not?

Aw I am sorry to hear that about your loach.

What kind of treatment are you using? I don't think that the med will effect your tests results in that they will be wrong but I am not sure about the meds disturbing your cycle.

Keep in touch...

 

[BIGMAC]

You are not being a pest, and it's no problem!

Keep me updated if you have time.

Hi again,the latest update is my weather loach is dead and one of the commets is looking really poor,the fish are still coverd in the whit spot,i am just keeping a close eye on them.Should i do any water tests when there is medication added to the water or not?

Aw I am sorry to hear that about your loach.

What kind of treatment are you using? I don't think that the med will effect your tests results in that they will be wrong but I am not sure about the meds disturbing your cycle.

Keep in touch...

the ICH has killed off yet another fish tonight,i have repeated the treatment with Malachite green.I have tested the water first my Nitrite is 0.25,Ammonia is 0.25,and Wide Range PH is7.0.Does this sound ok to you?
I was wondering would it help to do a partial water change ,or wouldnt that make any difference to the ICH thing? Thanks for all the advice you have been giving me.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I would be worried about those amonia and nitrite levels to be honest. Has the tank been cycled?

I would do a water change of maybe 30% and replace a dose of meds that you take out. So if you take out 20%, replace a 20% dose. Do you have aquarium salt? You could add that in which helps meds to work and with stress for fish.

If the meds are stuffing up your cycle then I'd consider changing meds if that's safe (maybe when you're to re-med and do a water change first). Where are you? Do you know of Interpet Anti Whitesot Plus? I use that and it's safe for the cycle, plants and all fish.

HTH

 

[BIGMAC]

I would be worried about those amonia and nitrite levels to be honest. Has the tank been cycled?

I would do a water change of maybe 30% and replace a dose of meds that you take out. So if you take out 20%, replace a 20% dose. Do you have aquarium salt? You could add that in which helps meds to work and with stress for fish.

If the meds are stuffing up your cycle then I'd consider changing meds if that's safe (maybe when you're to re-med and do a water change first). Where are you? Do you know of Interpet Anti Whitesot Plus? I use that and it's safe for the cycle, plants and all fish.

HTH

I thinkit must be the meds that have stuffed the cycle up cos the water was fine before this happened,i did do regular checks.
I will get some aquarium salt tomorrow and do the water change as you suggested.
I have never heard of that med you mentioned,but will try and find it,i take it it is available in the uk,im from yorkshire.
Thanks again