Persistent Ich

[biensurmacherie]

Hello,

One of my fish has ich, and one has shown the early symptoms of glancing off the rocks and glass. I have treated one course of Waterlife Protozin (a 6-day cycle with two days untreated), and an additional time today (day 7). This morning the fish with the worst case still had some of the white spots on her flesh and fins and now one of her eyes is very swollen and she doesn't seem to be able to see out of it. Because of the presence of her new babies, I've been following the instructions for fry, which say treat with half of the normal dose. This means I treated with full dose on days 1, 2 and 3, then half dose on days 6 and 7. I doubt this is safe to continue, so I'd like to hear your recommendations for when to start another cycle of treatment.

My tank is around 80L (20G). The population is:

1 Molly (worst affected)
At least 3 newly born Molly babies
1 Three-spot Gourami (showed early symptoms but no visible progression)
1 Silver Shark
2 Scissortail Roasboras
2 Bristlenose Plecos
6 Harlequin Rasboras

I have been doing a 10% water change every 2 days and replacing the medicine removed by this, 1 drop per litre.

I don't have a water test kit but I'm going to get the water tested this weekend. The temperature is normally 22 degrees (I'm working it up but that's what it's been for the past week) but I've put the thermostat up now to try to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Please advise me on when I can start another cycle of treatment, as I'm very worried about the molly. I've treated her today, which the instructions don't recommend (I'm on day 7), because the last of the spots seem to have gone, but I know the parasite is still present in my tank.

Thanks for your help,

Emma

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Hello,

One of my fish has ich, and one has shown the early symptoms of glancing off the rocks and glass. I have treated one course of Waterlife Protozin (a 6-day cycle with two days untreated), and an additional time today (day 7). This morning the fish with the worst case still had some of the white spots on her flesh and fins and now one of her eyes is very swollen and she doesn't seem to be able to see out of it. Because of the presence of her new babies, I've been following the instructions for fry, which say treat with half of the normal dose. This means I treated with full dose on days 1, 2 and 3, then half dose on days 6 and 7. I doubt this is safe to continue, so I'd like to hear your recommendations for when to start another cycle of treatment.

My tank is around 80L (20G). The population is:

1 Molly (worst affected)
At least 3 newly born Molly babies
1 Three-spot Gourami (showed early symptoms but no visible progression)
1 Silver Shark
2 Scissortail Roasboras
2 Bristlenose Plecos
6 Harlequin Rasboras

I have been doing a 10% water change every 2 days and replacing the medicine removed by this, 1 drop per litre.

I don't have a water test kit but I'm going to get the water tested this weekend. The temperature is normally 22 degrees (I'm working it up but that's what it's been for the past week) but I've put the thermostat up now to try to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Please advise me on when I can start another cycle of treatment, as I'm very worried about the molly. I've treated her today, which the instructions don't recommend (I'm on day 7), because the last of the spots seem to have gone, but I know the parasite is still present in my tank.

Thanks for your help,

Emma

Your tank is overstocked. Some of the fish you have grow too big to be kept in a 20 gallon. . .

That said, have you specifically researched aquarium salt? That can help with Ich. Hopefully somebody chimes in, but if not, google EACH species and see if it's safe for them, and at the same time check out the size each of the fish you have will become.

 

[WILDER]

Take a sample of your tank water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.

Once the whitespot gone rehome the silver shark. The tanks to small plus they shouldn't be kept in less than a group of 3.


Preform a 30% water change and run some black carbon for aday.
Then remove the carbon and start treating again.
Temp needs to be 30 for whitespot.
Increase aeration as the high temp and med reduces 02 in the water.
Also it takes longer to get rid of whitespot with only half dosing.

 

[biensurmacherie]

Thanks for the suggestions, but the medicine has worked now (treated a second full course with full dosage as the baby is older now).

I'm aware of the silver shark problem, I'm not planning to keep him there when he's bigger. For now he is fine, and enjoys playing with the scissortails, so I've not thought it necessary to get him any companions. He is currently only 2 and a half inches or so long, so room won't be a problem for a while.

Thanks again for the help with the ich, if it comes back I'll consult this thread.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Ich is not caused by overpopulation or anything to that effect... Ich is a little parrisite that attacks your fish when they are subjected to a sudden spell of cold water... when the fish is in shock being exposed to this condition and the ich parrisite cannot survive or reproduce in warmer waters. It is the only disease of my tropicals that I'm not even worried about... I see it, I treat it and it is nonrecurring.

with 100% success rate in treatment, (for me) I suggest that you merely turn up your water temperature to (around) 31 deg C for 3 days, and then gradually bring it back to your normal 26/7 degrees.

You can always take a fish to warmer waters, but never remove your fish from warm water and then place it in colder waters.... Ich will be the result.