HELP! Ich problem!

[jlink17]

I have a white MM platy that all of a sudden has ich or at least I think that is what it is. He started out not showing any signs of ich but it was hard to see on his white body and I evidentally missed it. Well, I have him in a QT tank and have been treating him with increased temp, aquarium salt and I have been using an ich med with Formalin and Malachite Green. Well, I thought he was doing better but now his dorsal fin is just falling apart and is about halfway gone. I have put some Melafix in the water as well and have been feeding him anti-bacterial food to try to keep any futher problems from occuring. I do 25% water changes every other day as well. Water quality is good and I check it daily. This fish is 2.5 yrs old so he is not spring chick and I don't know what else to do for him. Any advice? I noticed tonight that one of my other tanks has a few fish in them with the start of ich as well. I have seen 2 platy in it with a few white spots on them. I have started the formalin and malachite ich meds on that tank now as well as adding aquarium salt to it and doing 25% water changes every other day. Can anyone give me any other advice on what to do to get rid of this ich? I am afraid it may be too late for my White MM platy but I know my other tank I caught early as I can only see about 2 - 3 white spots on those two fish. Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[NUMB3RS]

I had the same problem, but then i went to my local petsmart and they had this medication called Quick cure and it worked! here is a website that has a picture of it http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=3261&Ntt=quick%20cure&OneResultRedirect=1. i know the website is petco but i bought mine from petsmart for 3 dollars. i would treat your whole entire tank to kill all of the parasites that are living. i would raise the temp in your tank to about 86 for one week to ensure that the parasites are gone. good luck!

[jlink17]

Thanks! That is the ich medicine I am using and I will raise the temp to 86. I have it at 84 now so not that far off. Should I continue with the Melafix for his fins? I am at a loss and I don't know what to do. I have been battling one thing or another with this fish for over 3 wks now.

[NUMB3RS]

to be honest i think he is ready to go to fish heaven, 2.5 years old is pretty old for a molly. you could just get rid of the ick and the fins should grow back normally. Good Luck, a picture would help too. :)

[jlink17]

He is a platy and I have tried to take some pics but they don't show it that good. Will try to get a good pic tonight and post it. I know he is old and if gets to where he I can see he is suffering and would be better off euthanized I will go that route. Right now, he is not at that point.

[NUMB3RS]

That's good to know. I just don't want him to contaminate your other fish and put your tank through a Depression. Yet again Good Luck! I beat Ich and I know you can too. Just dont stop trying.

[jlink17]

He is in a QT tank by himself so no other fish to depress or contaminate. He is not at the ready for death stage yet as he is still somewhat active and eats good. As long as he is fighting I will too. I bought him over 2 yrs ago so I know him pretty well and he is fighting. I am not going to give up on him just yet.

[jlink17]

Okay, here are the best pics I could get of him. He won't stay still for a better pic. Sorry. He does have some white fungus on his tail as well. His fin seems to be getting worse and I am wondering if the Melafix may be part of this problem as I know it can sometimes do this to fins on sensitive fish. I also wondered if he has tail & fin rot along with the ich. I have some meds that treat tail & fin rot as well as ich but honestly it all started out looking exactly like ich.

http://img5.glowfoto.com/images/2009/04/12-2206042705T.jpg (http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=12-220604L&y=2009&m=04&t=jpg&rand=2705&srv=img5)http://img5.glowfoto.com/images/2009/04/12-2207269764T.jpg (http://www.glowfoto.com/viewimage.php?img=12-220726L&y=2009&m=04&t=jpg&rand=9764&srv=img5)

[Lupin]

Looks like you have a mixed infection. It's not fungus but rather columnaris, a bacterial infection which is quite common among the common livebearers. Maracyn and Maracyn 2 combination is one way to battle it. The increased temperature might worsen the condition as bacterial infections progress quickly in warm environments. You could keep your usual temperature steady for two weeks while battling with ich. Clean water conditions is your best defense against bacterial infections when battling a mixed infection.