View Full Version : Ich update:Death and despair
Morbius
10-21-2006, 1:32 PM
Hello,all.Well I introduced a Rubblerlip pleco to my tank last week and then discovered it had ich(made a thread about it) so I did some searching and found a thread on treatment.I started treatment on tues,ramped my temp to 85-86 and added salt accordingly.Spots fell off said pleco on thurs,but sometime that night one of my lemon tetras was swimming crazy.And when I say crazy...I mean with no control...a spiral like swim, upside down....haphazardly u name it..he was doing it. I didnt want to see him suffer, so I took him out of his misery. I dont know if this was ich-related, so if someone could enlighten me??? That was thursday night. Friday morning I was observing the tank checking on the fish, when I noticed 5 of my six red minor tetras had spots! I didn't really panic,being that on the ich thread someone had stated it would most likely get worst before it got better.So lastnigt I did another water change,added the right amount of salt back to the tank and that was that. Got up today,checked on the occupants, almost all spots are gone from said fish...only like 2 or 3 on each fish,but then I noticed something on one of the red minors that kinda threw me. Right behind one of it's eyes above the gill there's an indent....looks like a chunk is missing...but it's not bleeding...another description would be it looks like erosion..like acid eating away @ his body. The reason why it's throwing me is I first was treating for ich,then I had the lemon that was doing a spiral death swim...now I have a fish with a plug or dent in his face. It's stil swimming around with vigor....not lethargic...or anything like that.I just fed them and he..along with all the rest ate with vigor.Temp of tank is @ 85 degrees all params are good everything is 0, nitrates are 12.5.. so can someone help me out?Did I misdiagnos?(RL pleco had white spots all over it's body)or, with the addition of the fish that was swimming oddly,do have more than one disease in my tank???? :help:
Morbius
10-21-2006, 2:50 PM
does fungus cause eroding of the body?
Morbius
10-21-2006, 8:53 PM
Anybody have a clue???
I think most people simply don't know. I hope your fish get well again, but I really don't have any idea about fungus.
Morbius
10-21-2006, 9:08 PM
Hello,ulan. Yeah...I figured after 35 views no1 really knew.I've just been replying myself to keep the thread in the top 10 case somebody signs on that knows lol. But thanx for your reply!
Star_Rider
10-21-2006, 9:10 PM
hard to tell without any pictures. ich does increase stress in fish and they can be suseptive to other infections.
also the trophont(white spot you see) the ich is actually turns and moves just under the surface it is feeding on cell walls and destroys cells.
it is possible after the ich dropped off the dead cells cast off.
this is why you need to watch for fungus. the salt will deter bacteria. and you are doing water changes . this will keep the water clean and help the fish to repair on it's own.
just keep an eye on things.
some ich meds that folks don't like here contain other chemicals to help the fish along. many of the meds use malachite green, victoria green etc. they also add acriflavine a mild but effective antiseptic
Morbius
10-21-2006, 9:30 PM
Thanx rider.The fish in question with the deteriation,didn't have any spots initaly.It just started showing spots yesterday.Also,the spot in question didn't have any spots in the area.I have read somewhere,either here or on another site, about this very thing.I'm just not sure if it was fungus or something else.When u say salt will deter bacteria, are you referring to the good bacteria in my tank??
Morbius
10-21-2006, 10:04 PM
Well from what I have read,fungus is along the lines of fuzzy/fluffy whit stuff.This particular spot is neither.It is more of something "eating" away @ the fish.I have been observing said fish all day,and the area hasn't gotten any bigger.I'll keep updating more.
mr_bentley78
10-22-2006, 9:14 AM
Could it be HITH (Hole in the head) disease? I'm not an expert at diagnosing fish, but it kinda sounds like an early stage. May want to read up on it.
Grundy
10-22-2006, 9:54 AM
I may be wrong but I think HTH disease is rare in noncichlids. Watch for expanding of the lesion on the fish - it could be / become fin rot in which case quaratining him and treating with Maracyn would be helpful. I agree that the ich and changed conditions are stressful to the fish so watch for other problems that may arise. If you catch the ich early (sounds like you did) most fish do well. Make sure you treat for 2-3 weeks for the ich or it can come back. Good luck!
CaitxSith
10-22-2006, 9:56 AM
it maybe rare on noncichlids but that doesn't mean it never happens..
Grundy
10-22-2006, 10:07 AM
it maybe rare on noncichlids but that doesn't mean it never happens..
Agreed, just saying it is not common.
jennfier
10-22-2006, 10:20 AM
Have you noticed that particular fish being attacked ? When stresssed, red minors (or serpae tetras) tend to nip at each other. I rescued some last month and I can tell you, these sure are quarrelsome little buggers. The weaker a fish is, the more it seems to get picked on by its mates. The temp and salt treatment along with the onset of ich may have caused some stress.
Try to post a closeup of the site in question.
Morbius
10-22-2006, 4:35 PM
Thanx for all your replies!!!!!Firstly, never heard of HITH...will have to read up on that.Checked fish today and almost all spots on other fish are gone.The fish with the hole is still doing ok,the hole hasn't gotten any bigger,and is still eating regularly.Jenn..u are absolutely correct on tetras being quarrlesome.They chase each other relentlessly!! It's not all the time but when they do,man...they really go @ it! I'll be doing another WC today and adding salt as directed.I continue to monitor the situation and post if things change.Thanx again for your replies!!!!!