HELP I think I have ICK!!

[Primetime]

Well I was looking at my tank and saw that the fish I added yesterday (Praecox Rainbow) had 2 white spots on her nose. I dont have a Q tank because my Betta resides in my 10 gallon. I also saw a Congo Tetra with 1 spot on one of her fins. The spots look pretty big for ICK (size of a large salt grain). What should I do. I haven't seen any flashing. Should I wait to see flashing and more spots or should I cure it without being sure its ICH??

Also read all my plants in my sig. What should I do with them while treating. I also have a bottle of ICK Guard lying around. Whats better? Salt or Ick Guard? Can I use both?

[bobbi619]

I would start treatment immediately. I just brought in 6 Rummy nose that had Ich, I started salt treatment right away and rid of it before it infected the whole tank. You dont want to lose your favorites so I would be safe rather than sorry.

[Primetime]

I've read that ICK spots are flat against the fish. My spots on the fish are 3D. Man wtf did the Praecox bring in??

[Primetime]

Also, which is better for the plants and fish? (INCLUDING OTOS and a Panda Cory :( :( )
Ick Guard or Salt?
I'll be raising the temp to 82.

And is this even ICK? (Read my last post)

[Primetime]

alright for anyone that cares, (doesn't seem like a lot do), its ICH for sure. I checked other sides and it says elevated spots are normal. I added 7tsp of salt, and plan on adding 7 more in half in hour and so on til I reach 1 teaspoon per gallon. Then I'll do the same tomorrow afterschool until I'm at 2 teaspoons per gallon. I am also slowly raising my temperature to 82-84 degrees.

[Roan Art]

Sounds like you have it under control. You don't need us :)

Just make sure you treat for about 7 days after the last spot disappears.

Roan

[Primetime]

Sounds like you have it under control. You don't need us :)

Just make sure you treat for about 7 days after the last spot disappears.

Roan
Thanks for replying lol. I was in a state of panic when I wrote those posts so I was a bit peeved for not getting much replies, but I'm fine now. I do have it under control. I just home my plants remain in one peace. I also hope this really is ICK and not some other disease. I'm like 90% sure its ICK though and it makes me almost certain because the first fish that got it was one I got the day before.

One question though; I have otos and last time my temperature went to 86 (faulty heater) an Oto died. What temp would you recommend also considering that I'm gonna use 1 tsp salt/gallon?

[YuccaPatrol]

I use more salt and higher heat than it seems many here do.

I add 1 teaspoon salt per gallon every 12 hours until I reach a concentration of 3 teaspoons per gallon. I also raise the temp up to 86'

No fish losses from this treatment other than fish that were seriously affected before treatment began.

[Primetime]

Well I already lost an oto and I haven't even reached 1 tsp per gallon. I moved all my otos to my 10 gallon tank. I hope this was not a mistake. They didn't look like they were affected by the ich so I took a chance on it. I did not want to see them die.

[misopeenut]

put chile pepper in your tank, and leave it in .... take it out whne the spots are gone

[Roan Art]

Drop the heat down to 82*. IME 86* is too hot for otos.

Roan

[hurricanejedi]

Just make sure you treat for about 7 days after the last spot disappears.
7 Days after last spot is gone? I thought it was 10 days from the start of treatment?

[Roan Art]

7 Days after last spot is gone? I thought it was 10 days from the start of treatment?
I've thought about it a lot and have noticed that the spots don't always fall off by day three. If, for some reason, the person treating cannot raise the temperature to speed up the cycle or the ich is extremely prevailant, it can take 4-5 days for the last spot to fall.

Rather than give different answers based on what the temperature is at or what other variables may apply, I think saying "7 days after the last spot" is the easiest and most efficient method of ensuring everyone gets the same information.

Of course, you can treat longer than that if you wish. I usually go 10 days and with goldfish 14 days after the last spot.

Just my 2 cents.
Roan

[hurricanejedi]

Ok just wanted to make sure. I don't mean to intrude on the thread. I started the full treatment Saturday and still no sign of the spots falling off.

[Roan Art]

Ok just wanted to make sure. I don't mean to intrude on the thread. I started the full treatment Saturday and still no sign of the spots falling off.
Nod, exactly why I've changed my tune on that. Just safer, IMO.

Roan

[Primetime]

Alright, thanks for everyone for the help! The temperature is around 80-81 right now rising to a goal of 84. I can even go to 86 because my Otos aren't in there anymore, but dont want to risk it so I chose 84. I only had 3 spots to begin with, but now I have 2. Thanks again.

[onepawnup]

JUST A THOUGHT
WHY DONT YOU MOVE your betta to a bowl for the time being and treat just the sick fish in the 10 gal ?

[Roan Art]

JUST A THOUGHT
WHY DONT YOU MOVE your betta to a bowl for the time being and treat just the sick fish in the 10 gal ?
You need to treat the entire tank and all its fish inhabitants.

Why move the betta anyhow? It's far more suited to a temp of 86* than anything else that was in the tank.

Roan

[DaisyTattoo]

You need to treat the entire tank and all its fish inhabitants.

Why move the betta anyhow? It's far more suited to a temp of 86* than anything else that was in the tank.

Roan
The betta is in a 10 gallon that did not have ich and they moved the otos in there to keep them from dying from the heat. That is how I understood it.

[fishlore101]

Even if your otos don't look sick they still could be infected. I would treat them with an Ick med. I like coppersafe just because it treats a lot of illnesses. Hope your fish get better.

[Roan Art]

The betta is in a 10 gallon that did not have ich and they moved the otos in there to keep them from dying from the heat. That is how I understood it.
Ah, well, I missed that boat.

You're going to have to treat the betta tank as well now, Primetime. Chances are that the otos were carrying ich and it's in your betta tank, too.

Roan

[Roan Art]

Even if your otos don't look sick they still could be infected. I would treat them with an Ick med. I like coppersafe just because it treats a lot of illnesses. Hope your fish get better.
I would never advise someone to use Coppersafe in their tank. It is far too risky.

Please read this thread:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60350&highlight=coppersafe

Roan

[Primetime]

Alright Roan, I've started medicating the 10 gallon as well. I'm not using salt for the 10 gallon though because it caused my oto to die, so I used Ick Guard. Heres more info on it:
http://www.animalworldnetwork.com/julaickguli2.html

I did a half dosage with no carbon.

[Primetime]

Alright I definately see atleast 20-30 spots on another praecox rainbow in the 55 gallon tank! :( :( .. Is it common to see the situation get worse before it gets better?

[Primetime]

??? anyone? I even see spots on my neons now and my other rainbows!! Most of my fish have it except the Balas, Kribs, and I cant really tell if the guppies do.

[Roan Art]

Yes, you have accelerated the cycle don't forget, so things are speeded up.

You're worrying too much ;)

BTW, I sincerely doubt the salt killed your oto, more likely the high temperatures. I've treated otos at 2 teaspoons @ gallon with no problems, I did have one die at a temp over 84*. IME the temperature is more deadly.

Roan

[Primetime]

Yes, you have accelerated the cycle don't forget, so things are speeded up.

You're worrying too much ;)

BTW, I sincerely doubt the salt killed your oto, more likely the high temperatures. I've treated otos at 2 teaspoons @ gallon with no problems, I did have one die at a temp over 84*. IME the temperature is more deadly.

Roan
LOL sorry about the worrying. I'm actually not that worried, I was just bumping the page because I needed help. As for the Oto, it couldn't have been the temperature, because it happened last night, when the temperature was at 79*.

Ohhh now I get what people meant by speeding up the cycle! So it does get worse before it gets better. Good to know that everythings going good then! :D

The temperature is at 84* now.

I'll be raising it up to 86* by tomorrow morning. I'm doing this because I don't have otos in there and all the fish seem to be showing no signs of stress temp wise so far. BTW, even the Balas have it now :(