Relief for a Fish with Ich

[Splash]

I've got a Gold Severum suffering from Ich. I've done tons of research and can't find any remedies for the fish themselves. All the remedies available are for treating the tank. What can be done, if anything, to help the fish get rid of these pesky buggers?

I've treated the tank with Formalin and salt and raised the tank temperature to 85 degrees. I would like to know what can I do to help the fish that's suffering. It's breaking my heart to see her with these spots. She's breathing heavy and keeps scratching.

Anyone have any ideas?

Tank specs: 55 g
Amm. 0
Nitrate 0
pH 7.0
T-85 degrees

Many thanks!

[ROLLIN]

Try to get either some quickcure, or rid-ich. The 2 products are basically the same thing, I think one is just stronger than the other.

[peifc]

I use "Super Ick". That medicine is great. If the fish just showing signs of ick...one treatment with temperature raise to 82, 2 days later...all gone. If the ick is severed, I treat the tank again 2 days later. On the 4th days, the ick is gone.

I know people told me to take the carbon out of the filter. Just too much trouble. I just shut off the filter for 3 hours. Then I turn it back on. In the past, I took the carbon out and left the filter on, I noticed the medicine wasn't as strong and the medicine disappeared within 2 hours. None of my fish ever died from ick or the medicine.

[Splash]

I wish'd I posted this thread earlier today, before I went to the LFS.

I don't know where they get the people that work at the LFS these days. It's hard to find someone who knows what they are talking about. I'm glad I don't totally rely on them as a source of information.

Not to offend anyone who works at LFS and who knows something beyond the basics. Believe me, we need more of you!

I have also had trouble getting her to eat. On a whim, I decided to try frozen brine shrimp last night. She ate it up. It was good to see her eat something. While I was at the LFS, I picked up some live brine and fed it too her tonight. I haven't see her be this active in nearly a week and half. I know it wasn't probably the smartest thing to do since she still sick, but she really needs to eat, too. And yes, I know, it's only candy for fish. Mom gives you jello when you're sick, right?

She looks like she's has a little color in her cheeks and is moving around a lot more than she has. It's the first positive sign I've seen in awhile. :)

What's in Super Ick that makes it so effective?

[ScottoMacD]

Curing ich is quite easy. It all depends if you are a pro or anti med person

Raise the tank temp above 82 degrees (which you already have)

Add some aquarium salt to the tank. 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons is enough. Careful if you have scaleless fish though it will bother them. In that case make it 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons.

If you don't want to go that way. Any product with Malachite green in it will cure the ich. And help to sooth the fish as well.
I use NOXICH. It is not very harsh and does the job very well. And is quite cheap. Just make sure to remove any carbon from the filter and follow the directions carefully.

http://www.lilypons.com/store/56330.jpg

Other meds that you can use.
Coopersafe (quite mild)
Maricide (mild)
Clout ( very harsh to be used only in severe situations, always good to have on hand though)

[AikidoGuy]

I use the first method that scott mentioned and it as worked without fail everytime. I might also mention that anytime i add a new fish even if it has been quarentined i will treat the whole tank as if it has ick and raise the temp and add some salt as a precaution for the newly added stress. In that case i usually add 1/2tsp for every 5 gall. or other words 1tsp for every 10 gals.

[peifc]

However, if you have plecos or loachs in the tank, be careful of the salt. They are very sensitive.

That's why I don't add salt in mine. My loaches are still young to take on that :D

[Splash]

I don't have any pl*cos or loaches in this tank. So don't worry! I like to try the least evasive types of treatments before moving to the big guns.

It's so hard sometimes to watch them suffer. Especially when you have spent mucho dinero on them to keep them alive!

She's looking a little more alert and perkier than usual. So perhaps things are looking up! Still got those white spots, though.

[peifc]

When I first learned about ick, I did water change before I treated the tank. After treatment, I did 10% water change again. Don't know how your fish can take that, but mine took it just fine.