symptoms of ich?

[Undawada]

One of my female platies has ich.

I've never had ich before (thank goodness), but the problem is she also isn't swimming properly.

She sinks to the bottom, and when she tries to swim it's like she doesn't have any control or balance. She hits things and rolls onto her side. Is this a symptom of ich or is it something else?

I don't have a hospital tank (this makes me think I should get one when I can afford it) but I started ich treatment today (removed carbon, added ich medicine according to directions)... is that enough or what else should I do?

 

[Cian McLiam]

It sounds more like a swimbladder problem, can you see any pronounced white spots? Swimbladder problems are very hard to treat but proper care with water changes, maintenance of the tank and filter etc will all help the fish combat it on their own.

You could also try feeding mushed up peas with the hard shell removed, though this wont help with a bacterial infection of the swimbladder.

Ken

 

[Undawada]

Yes, the white spots are why I think it's ich.

Should I cook the peas first?

I'm going to do daily water changes and keep up the ich treatment... Sounds like the ich lowered the fish's immune system allowing a swim bladder infection... My guess is that if I cure the ich, then the fish can start to heal her swim bladder.

Hopefully, at least.