Ack!! I'm a noobie and my fish got Ick!

CaitxSith

CaitxSith

A little too obsessed with neons.
Sep 30, 2006
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The pond with some Triops
Ok... I searched for some topics on ick. They all have some salt thing but I wasn't prepared and I didn't know about ick, until today I look at my blue tetra and he has spots all over him! I can't buy salt because it's sunday so what should I do? I don't want to kill him but If I have to, I will! Please help!! And does that mean my tank is infected, also?? If it is, what do I do??

All I know is that for 2 days, my tank got down from 76 to 72 degrees...

*EDIT*I also don't have a quarentine tank so I can't move him. I EXTREMELY freaked out because this is the first time experiencing ick first-hand and live and I'm a noob fishkeeper (like i always say >_>). Wouldn't that make my other tetras get ick AND the tank would be infested itself? How do i get rid of ick 100% in my tank????
Soo confused and freaked out!
 
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read the article DF posted...table salt is fine....slowly raise the temp
 
wait... it says ick is immune when it falls off and on the gravel OR on the fish. And if I heat up the tank, my tetras will get boiled! AHHH! Too much for a newbie!
 
That's why you have to continue to treat the tank once the fish have been cured. Would you rather the salt kill them or the ick? - If Bishop says you can add table salt, then you can add table salt. And you are not going to boil the fish if you merely adjust the temp in small increments. Your tank is large enough that the temp should not change drastically. Just let a few hours pass before raising the temp a little more.
 
Okay, now go back and read it again, slowly taking in small parts at a time.

The treatment is recommended for an extended period of time to catch the ich in the free stage, between gravel and fish and between fish and gravel.

The temperature may be stressful. The ich is stressful and will surely kill your fish. Post again after you read it again with your specific questions. You can do this!
 
WOW!!!!!!! NOW I'm REALLY freaked out. Not only my blue tetra has ick, but:

1)My glolite female has ick
2)one of my black neons have ick on its fin
3)my silvertip tetra has ick
4)Even my pleco has ick! (and his belly is a little err, inwards-ish)
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Now it's going crazy. So far, I added 1 tsp in my 4 gal bucket and I siphoned 1 gal out of it, into the filter. I guess now I have to wait 1 hr and do it again?

Do I really have to siphon the gravel? I'm a little... umm... scared of putting my hand in ick water...
:o

*err.. how long did I have to do this? 2 weeks? Then when do I stop adding salt and how much salt should I put in after 4 hours or 1/4 salt per gallon? Can I do 1 tsp per gallon or should I do 2 tsp per gallon?

Dang this is confusing :sad:
 
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LIke bishop said. Read the article slowly. 2 tsp per gallon is your target. You are only upping the heat a few degrees. Go slowly. You will have to treat the whole tank. It is likely all the fish have ich, or will show signs of it. I would do the treatment for about 6 weeks. When you do water changes, add salt back. If you take out one gallon, add 2 tsp salt to the new water. (you dont have to do this slowly, since you are just matching the salinity) Dont worry about putting your hand in ich water. I dont think there is a single documented case of ich infesting humans. Its just not possible ;)
 
Okay, calm down. Accept the fact now, that all your fish will probably get ich. You can not stop that.

Shoot for the 2 tsp per gal mark. You have a 20 gal tank, and need to get the level of salt up slowly, doing it in stages, watching for reactions. 20 gal means you will be adding 40 tsp of salt by the time you are done.

Get it to one tsp per gal first. Mix 20 tsp of salt in one gal of warm water. Stir until well dissolved. Drain or better yet, gravel vac out one gal of water from your tank. Add one fourth of the saltwater mixture, every hour for four hours.

Stay observant on your fishes reactions, you may have to lengthen the time between doses.

Let them settle into that for a couple of hours. Mix another batch of water, 1 gallon and 20 tsp of salt. Drain out another 1 gal from the tank. Every 2 hrs add about a fourth of this mix to the tank. Keep close observation to their reaction.

You need to bring that temp up to at least 82-84 degrees, preferably 86. DO THIS SLOWLY. Note, higher temps mean less O2 in the water. If your fish hang out at the surface, gasping, add an airstone for increased air exchange.

Once you have achieved 2 tsp per gallon you do not add more salt. Continue the temp and salt water conditions for the length of time noted in the link. You will still have to do your required water changes. Ensure the replacement water has the 2 tsp per gallon concentration as your tank.
 
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