For the past 11 days, I have been treating my community tank for ick with heat set at 84'F and 2 teaspoons/gal salt. I began treatment immediately upon seeing the very first ick spots on only 2 neon tetras and one Silver Hatchetfish.
Over the first 3-4 days, ick became more apparent on the Hatchetfish but disappeared on the tetras. A few days later no ick was visible on any fish and most fish never showed any spots.
Only one fish died during the first week of treatment and that was a single male cherry barb that never showed any ick symptoms. I suppose that it was more affected by the heat/salt as the other 2 cherry barbs have not been very active since treatment began but have never shown ick symptoms.
During the past 3 days, I have lost 6 neon tetras. I have never seen any of them acting unusual or appearing pale. I just find them on the bottom or stuck to the filter intake. Half of these were large ones that I have had for nearly 2 years.
I have done 3 50% water changes since the first sign of ick, replacing the salt that I removed during the change: 1 right before treatment, and 2 since the beginning of treatment. Also, I turned the temp down to 82'F after the first neon death.
I am not doing a 50% water change and will not add more salt since I am coming to the end of the 14 day treatment period.
Any ideas on why these fish are dying so late in treatment? Stress from heat/salt is my best guess. It is particularly interesting that every single hatchetfish has survived since they are known to be very sensitive and susceptible to ick.
Post-PWC test results:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5ppm
pH: 7.2
Over the first 3-4 days, ick became more apparent on the Hatchetfish but disappeared on the tetras. A few days later no ick was visible on any fish and most fish never showed any spots.
Only one fish died during the first week of treatment and that was a single male cherry barb that never showed any ick symptoms. I suppose that it was more affected by the heat/salt as the other 2 cherry barbs have not been very active since treatment began but have never shown ick symptoms.
During the past 3 days, I have lost 6 neon tetras. I have never seen any of them acting unusual or appearing pale. I just find them on the bottom or stuck to the filter intake. Half of these were large ones that I have had for nearly 2 years.
I have done 3 50% water changes since the first sign of ick, replacing the salt that I removed during the change: 1 right before treatment, and 2 since the beginning of treatment. Also, I turned the temp down to 82'F after the first neon death.
I am not doing a 50% water change and will not add more salt since I am coming to the end of the 14 day treatment period.
Any ideas on why these fish are dying so late in treatment? Stress from heat/salt is my best guess. It is particularly interesting that every single hatchetfish has survived since they are known to be very sensitive and susceptible to ick.
Post-PWC test results:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5ppm
pH: 7.2
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