ICH! ICH! ICH!

[NSP]

Hi everyone!

I think my tank is cursed.

25 Gallon

Contents:

2 Mollies
1 Pleco (don't criticize the Pleco)
2 Bolivian Rams
1 Neon Tetra (used to have 5!)
1 Betta
2 Guppies

Water Temp 80 Degrees F
PH 7.5
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0 (not detectable)

I am using Quick Cure as a treatment. I read that in extreme cases for
Tetras that instead of using a half dose, I could use 2 half doses
during the day (one in the morning, one at night).

Well, that didn't work out too well. All but one of the tetras are
dead.

My poor fiancee was in tears last night when the first neon died (he
was caught in the aquaclear filter pipe) - and she doesn't know about
the other 3 I found this morning in the same place. In fish terms,
they looked as though the fish mafia tried to dump the bodies!

I'm well aware of the whole ich cycle business, but I am concerned
that every time I add fish, a new breakout is going to happen.

Assuming my remaining tetra dies, when the ich recurs with a new tetra
family in a community tank, will half doses per day be enough to treat
the scaled fish AND the tetras at the same time?

Regards,
Neil

[Flash Wilson]

On 13 Dec 2003 12:58:57 -0800, NSP > wrote:
>I think my tank is cursed.

Oh dear :(

>1 Pleco (don't criticize the Pleco)

Why... if you know he won't fit....?

>I am using Quick Cure as a treatment. I read that in extreme cases for
>Tetras that instead of using a half dose, I could use 2 half doses
>during the day (one in the morning, one at night).
>
>Well, that didn't work out too well. All but one of the tetras are
>dead.

Ouch :-(

>I'm well aware of the whole ich cycle business, but I am concerned
>that every time I add fish, a new breakout is going to happen.

Not if you quarantine them, although I know many hobbyists don't
have room/time/money for a quarantine tank - I don't either!

I would say 1) be careful where you buy the fish, because fish from
one shop here almost always have something wrong, and fish from
another are always wonderful, and 2) ich, and other diseases, often
occur as a side-effect of stress. You said the water parameters
are good, is there anything else that could be causing stress,
are any fish chasing any others, or anything else odd?

>Assuming my remaining tetra dies, when the ich recurs with a new tetra
>family in a community tank, will half doses per day be enough to treat
>the scaled fish AND the tetras at the same time?

When I get ich (which is rarely I must admit) I use full dose
and take the chance that the fish will survive it, as I don't
want the ich to spread. That might be bad advice, it's just
personal choice.

Have you investigated adding salt? I know tetras and bettas
don't like it (although mollies do prefer salt and you seem
to be keeping these fish together?) - I've heard ich can't
stand salt. Then you could reduce the salt level with frequent
water changes once the outbreak is over.

I'd take advice on that though, I have not kept tetras in water
with salt, although my betta has seemed fine in it when he
spent some time in a different tank.

Just a thought. Hope things improve!

--
Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!

[Toni]

"NSP" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm well aware of the whole ich cycle business, but I am concerned
> that every time I add fish, a new breakout is going to happen.
>


Not if you use a quarantine tank.
Saves a lot of heartbreak.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm

[NSP]

> I think my tank is cursed.
>
> 25 Gallon
>
> Contents:
>
> 2 Mollies
> 1 Pleco (don't criticize the Pleco)
> 2 Bolivian Rams
> 1 Neon Tetra (used to have 5!)
> 1 Betta
> 2 Guppies
>
> Water Temp 80 Degrees F
> PH 7.5
> Amonia 0
> Nitrite 0
> Nitrate 0 (not detectable)

I was watching the tank carefully the other night, and I was really
bothered because aside from the fish with ich, my female guppy who
didn't have a spot on her had clamped fins and was sticking close to
the gravel. While hers was the most pronounced, a lot of fish seemed
to be lacking the luster I had grown accustomed to.

I have one of those stick-on thermometers on the side of the tank -
and the reading was showing about 75-76 - it really wasn't very clear
at all. I should have the thermometer replaced.

I felt the water, and it indeed felt very cold for a tropical tank.

Examining the heater, it was apparent that the temperature had been
turned way down.

Then it all came together! My cat enjoys sitting in front of the tank.
Occasionally, he jumps on top of the canopy and tries to swipe at the
fish from the rear right corner glass (not inside the tank, outside
the tank). The heater knob is easily turned and reached from there.

Perhaps my cat thought that if he can't get into the tank, perhaps by
killing the fish, he can get them out ;=).

If I'm not mistaken, ich is extremely reproductive at lower
temperatures as well - which explains why my neons looked like they
were being eaten alive.

Since turning the temperature up, everyone seems to be behaving much
better, and I do see a niticeable improvement with the ich.

My biggest concern is the Betta because he hides in the castle all
day. I think he might be shy or has the ich blues.

I'm going to continue with the Quick Cure treatments twice a day at
half doses each time. Any other recommendations?

Oh! I'm also going to put some scotch tape on the knob to prevent more
feline fiddling.

Regards,
Neil

[Anton]

I had an outbreak of Ich about a month ago (1st in 5 years) and I
successfully treated it using salt AND heat. Meds tend to be expensive and
when I heard of these alternatives I thought it was worth a try.

Turn up the heat gradually until it's well over 86deg.
Add disolved non-iodized salt gradually until you've got a salt
concentration of 0.3%.

Keep these levels for at least 10 days (or 3 days after final visible
symptoms of Ich on the fish).

I had cherry barbs, lemon tetras and congo tetras in my tank at the time.
They all showed signs of increased metabolism rates (faster breathing,
swimming, etc) but they all pulled through. I also have plants(amazon sword,
crypts, java fern & wisteria) in the tank of which most suffered a bit but
none died.

I got all my info from searching the 'net.

g'luck,
Anton


"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> On 13 Dec 2003 12:58:57 -0800, NSP > wrote:
> >I think my tank is cursed.
>
> Oh dear :(
>
> >1 Pleco (don't criticize the Pleco)
>
> Why... if you know he won't fit....?
>
> >I am using Quick Cure as a treatment. I read that in extreme cases for
> >Tetras that instead of using a half dose, I could use 2 half doses
> >during the day (one in the morning, one at night).
> >
> >Well, that didn't work out too well. All but one of the tetras are
> >dead.
>
> Ouch :-(
>
> >I'm well aware of the whole ich cycle business, but I am concerned
> >that every time I add fish, a new breakout is going to happen.
>
> Not if you quarantine them, although I know many hobbyists don't
> have room/time/money for a quarantine tank - I don't either!
>
> I would say 1) be careful where you buy the fish, because fish from
> one shop here almost always have something wrong, and fish from
> another are always wonderful, and 2) ich, and other diseases, often
> occur as a side-effect of stress. You said the water parameters
> are good, is there anything else that could be causing stress,
> are any fish chasing any others, or anything else odd?
>
> >Assuming my remaining tetra dies, when the ich recurs with a new tetra
> >family in a community tank, will half doses per day be enough to treat
> >the scaled fish AND the tetras at the same time?
>
> When I get ich (which is rarely I must admit) I use full dose
> and take the chance that the fish will survive it, as I don't
> want the ich to spread. That might be bad advice, it's just
> personal choice.
>
> Have you investigated adding salt? I know tetras and bettas
> don't like it (although mollies do prefer salt and you seem
> to be keeping these fish together?) - I've heard ich can't
> stand salt. Then you could reduce the salt level with frequent
> water changes once the outbreak is over.
>
> I'd take advice on that though, I have not kept tetras in water
> with salt, although my betta has seemed fine in it when he
> spent some time in a different tank.
>
> Just a thought. Hope things improve!
>
> --
> Flash Wilson Restaurant, music and gig reviews,
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pylons, Tube and sponsor children,
> Visit The Gorge... Images of London, festivals & cars
> http://www.gorge.org and everything about Flash Wilson!