Pictus death

ejk0799

ejk0799

AC Members
Dec 5, 2005
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Connecticut
Ugh. We have Ich in our 75 gallon. I have heard that Spotted Pictus are super susceptable to it and very hard to treat when they have it. We have one more of them and it now has it too. Is there any way to save it?? We are using the salt method as it seems to be the preferred way to go. The only problem is our two Bala Sharks seem to be a bit stressed by either the salt or the raised temps. We checked our water this morning and it's perfect..

PH 7.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10

There are 7 Tiger Barbs, 7 Giant Danios and a White Line Pimodella who all seem to be fine so it's mainly the Balas and the other Pictus I'm worried about. Am I doing everything I can or is there another trick in the book that might be helpful?

Thanks
 
How high is your temp? Do you need to increase aeration? What dose of salt are you using? Type of salt? IME, slightly less aggressive but longer lasting treatment is best for sensitive fish such as the pictus. I've always isolated fish for treatment, salt or meds, and raised the temp only in the main tank. Once eradicated, quarantining new fish, plants etc. should minimze the risk of reintroducing an infection.
 
Our temp is at 82 and we are using Doc Wellfish's Aquarium Salt. We reduced the water level so that we have some serious movement of the water up top from our Emperor 400 and Aquaclear 50. I don't think Oxygen is a problem. Nobody is gasping. The Bala's are just behaving oddly. They aren't really eating and just not themselves. I don't quite know how to explain it. I didn't quarantine anyone because I thought when you have Ich you have to treat your main tank and everyone in it. If I'm doing something wrong, please tell me.
 
No, you have to treat the entire tank.

The balas could have a nasty case in their gills, which may make them behave oddly.

Add an airstone and a small pump, put the water level back up. A 400 with low water will produce a LOT of downward current to the bottom which could be one of the problems.

How much salt did you put in? If you are using Wellfish salt and not following the ich treatment directions here (which recommend table salt), then you probably don't have enough to kill the ich with.

Roan
 
Bugger. OK, I guess I missed the part about it having to be table salt. On the box of Wellfish that I have it says when using as a remedy put the temp up to 80 and add 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. In a 75 that's a heck of a lot of salt. Took me forever to dissolve it properly. I added it over a couple of days.

What is the difference between regular table salt and the one I have?

The second Pictus is on it's way out. He won't make it through the night I'm sure. It's the Bala's I need to focus on now. *sigh*
 
ejk0799 said:
Bugger. OK, I guess I missed the part about it having to be table salt. On the box of Wellfish that I have it says when using as a remedy put the temp up to 80 and add 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. In a 75 that's a heck of a lot of salt. Took me forever to dissolve it properly. I added it over a couple of days.
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The problem is that that's not *enough* salt.

To treat for ich you need 1-2 tsps per gallon, or if you are treating by net volume, 75 teaspoons in your case should do the trick. That'll probably put you just over 1 teaspoon per gallon.

Okay, so you added Wellfish at 1 tbl per 5 gallons, that's 45 teaspoons. You need to add 30 more. Use table salt, it's FAR easier to dissolve and works just as well.

Also, up the temperature to 82*.

What is the difference between regular table salt and the one I have?
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Basically, we KNOW what's in table salt. We don't KNOW what's in Wellfish salt. If you want to use Wellfish, that's fine. IMO it's way harder to dissolve and costs three times as much as a box of Morton's.

The second Pictus is on it's way out. He won't make it through the night I'm sure. It's the Bala's I need to focus on now. *sigh*
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Sorry to hear that. Sometimes the ich just really gets into the gills before it shows on the body and it's too much.

Roan
 
Thank you Roan. You have been so helpful. I have a box thingie of Morton's in my pantry. I'll go put some of that in now. My temp is up to 82 now so I should be good there. I guess I got suckered into the Wellfish by the LFS.. Next time I'll know better, although hopefully there isn't a next time.
 
MAke sure you have your tablespoons and teaspoons straight. you quoted a dose of 1 teaspoon per 5 gallon, wellfish reccomends 1 tablespoon per 5 gallon (not enough as Roan pointed out) and you need 1-3 teaspoons per gallon. I have put pictus and Bala's both through 2+ teaspoons per gallon successfully.

Remember that there will be stress from the ich alone, and probably some additional stress from the heat and salt with some fish. the alternative is worse. You do need to watch your fish, but you can expect some signs of stress and odd behavior with that many changes in the tank, and the parasite working on your fish. As roan also pointed out there is a good chance that all fish have ich, some just don't have it externally, or it may be too small right now to see.

I'm no fan of Doc wellfish salt, but it is most likely the same as table salt and if you already own it use it up then switch to the less expensive stuff.
Dave
 
Thanks, Dave!

Yah, I missed that s/he wrote "1 teaspoon per 5 gallons" since Wellfish's box says 1 tablespoon.

If you see this, ejk0799, depending on how much salt you originally put in the tank, make sure you have at least 1 teaspoon per gallon in total.

Roan
 
I'm a she last time I checked ;o)

Thank you...that was a typo on my part. The box does say one Tablespoon and I had to think back to Home Economics class from way too many years ago to remember how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon since my measuring spoon thingie is a teaspoon. Lord knows I'm not the domestic type. LOL Martha Stewart would be ashamed.

I have to say...the bigger tanks are definitely nice but you realize what a pain in the butt it is when you have to treat for stuff like this. I hate to see my little friends sick. :(
 
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