Platy With Ich

[Annastasia]

Hi all,

Woke up this morning, and saw one of my Hi-fin Platies had ich. I added some Rid-Ich in, a little salt, and raised the temp. to 82. Is there anything else I should be doing that will help? I know partial water changes frequently, but what else?

And before you all ask, water stats are:
Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 30
p.H 6.6 (Yes, acidic water here..no fish mind though)

She's in a 15 gallon with a Betta, and 4 other Platies.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I have been keeping fish for a long time, but this is only my second time with ich. I sucessfully treated it before....but you learn something new everyday!

 

[WILDER]

Turn temp up to 30, good luck.

http/cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php

 

[expert11]

if you can do a full water change then put the medication in and turn up the temperature

 

[Annastasia]

Thanks guys. I already did everything you mentioned, as I said in my first post. Just wondering if there was anything else I should do. I guess not though, as all I have done is all that's been mentioned.

 

[scrappy]

turning up the temp will stress the fish slightly, i would reccomend leaving them in the dark aswell if possible (if you havent got any live plants in your tank), keep an eye on water stats while you treat with your anti parasite solution, dont make the mistake of thinking you have to change the water more often as its actually diluting your anti parasite dosage and it will be less effective, you must continue to treat until all your fish are ich free and you cant see them scratching against rough surfaces (this indicates early stages of ich before you see any white spots), the white spots are actually the mature parasite after its fed on the fish for a few days and is preparing to drop off and reproduce. Remember the only time this parasite is vulnerable is when they have reproduced and the new 800+ parasites are looking for a new host to infect.

 

[Angel Lady]

I dont use the parasite meds at all. I turn the temp up to 85 and do a few water changes and add some salt. and I have a ich free tank in a week or so. Plus I dont have a bunch of stressed out fish due to all that ich medicine..

 

[Annastasia]

Hmmm....thanks Angel Lady. I'd do that, except I have Loaches in the tank and I don't want to add the full dose of salt for very long. It's only the one Platy that has it. I'd really like to seperate her, and just treat her specially, but I know that will spread the ich and I sure don't want that.

Thanks so much for the advice everyone!

 

[Twobeards]

I am currently treating my 55 gal. for ick and wish I could use the salt method but alas I have corys so I gotta use the blue stuff

 

[Annastasia]

Well, I'm happy to report after my water changes and the salt treatment, she seems to be better! Not as many spots. One of her other female companions showed up with 2 white spots (I almost died...she is very pregnant, and one of my best females), however the morning after a water change and salt addition, they were gone. So this seems to be working! I'll keep you updated.

Twobeards, good luck with your tank! Hope your fish get better soon!

 

[Twobeards]

Thank you Annastasia I hope I caught it in time and not loose any fish. My male kissing gourami looks like some one salted him down, he is covered in little white specks. Jimmy

 

[Annastasia]

Awww, poor Kisser. When my tank with my Kissing Gourami got ich, she never caught it. But then again, she is a good solid 8".

Have you seen any improvement at all?

 

[Twobeards]

Not yet Im still hopeing, I did loose a 5" peacock eel today I just pray that I dont loose to many. I am useing Wardleys Ick Away since I cant use salt. I was hopeing that the 20 long I am cycling would be ready so I could move the corys but Im still high on nitrates at 40 of course Im only in my 3rd day of cycling (fishless). My ammonia is .025 and nitrites are 0 thats on the 20g. Whats really upsetting is I used filter media out of my 55g for seed in the 20 so Im treating it to but with salt. So even if it was ready I'd be afraid to move them because of the salt in the 20. When it rains it pours Thanks so much for your concern. Jimmy

 

[Annastasia]

Awww, I am so sorry. Ich stinks.

Are you in the US? Just wondering, because I've never heard of Wardleys Ich Away, and there might be a better medicine for you. Do you have your temperature turned up?

You are in a tough situation! Poor you. (((Hugs Twobeard)))

Do you have any other ich-free tanks you could cycle your 20 with? Or ask your LFS for some filter media? Most LFS will give you some. Then just stop adding the salt in, and the Cories will be fine. They just can't stand salt for a long period of time. I'd do a water change before you add them in, or maybe a few, just to get rid of some of the salt. I'd be a little worried about tranferring ich to that tank, moving the Cories over....but maybe it's for the best.

 

[Twobeards]

Awww, I am so sorry. Ich stinks.

Are you in the US? Just wondering, because I've never heard of Wardleys Ich Away, and there might be a better medicine for you. Do you have your temperature turned up?

You are in a tough situation! Poor you. (((Hugs Twobeard)))

Do you have any other ich-free tanks you could cycle your 20 with? Or ask your LFS for some filter media? Most LFS will give you some. Then just stop adding the salt in, and the Cories will be fine. They just can't stand salt for a long period of time. I'd do a water change before you add them in, or maybe a few, just to get rid of some of the salt. I'd be a little worried about tranferring ich to that tank, moving the Cories over....but maybe it's for the best.

Thank you so much for the concern and hugs. I live in Western Wisconsin. My temps are at 75f. My 55 is starting look a lot better although I lost both kissing gouramis. None of the other fish seem affected as I dont see any of them flicking against objects and all the fish are much more active I even see my 2 featherfin catfish which is not normal as they are always hiding. The 20 gallon is how ever another problem I havent used any medication in that tank only salt and you can see what looks like salt grains floating all over in there its like a snow storm. Probably gonna have to tear it all down and boil all gravel and decorations and bleach filter box air tubing and air stones and heater then bleach all inside the tank but I really hoped I wouldnt have to do that but I dont know of any other way except maybe go ahead and medicate the tank and make sure I kill it all Then restart the cycling process. Jimmy

 

[Annastasia]

Okay, raise them temperature up to 85. Slowly, using the heater. Don't add hot water. The ich life cycle will be faster in warmer water, which means you can kill it sooner. You can only kill them when they are free-swimming, not on any fish. It appears your's are at that stage, so keep dosing. If possible, you might want to get some Rid-Ich. I found this to work really well on tanks where I couldn't add salt. Water changes are a biggy too.

What kind of salt did you use in the 20g? Or are you saying you can see ich flying around?

I went through the whole bleaching thing on one tank...not fun. It might be the safest option though, for that one.

Poor you...I really feel for you. (((hugs again)))
I'm sorry about all your troubles...but if you stick through it all, you'll have a nice, happy healthy tank.