Am I Treating Ich Right?

J

JasDownUnder

AC Members
Jan 12, 2003
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Brisbane, Australia
Tonight when i went to feed my fish, i noticed that one of my comet feeders was swimming around really fast, and i couldn't find the other one (my platy and swordtail were normal) so i went and got a torch and looked in the cave, and i saw my other comet feeder, covered in white salt-like spots.... i guess this is ich? the other comet feeder has it as well, but you can only really see it when you shine the torch on them... i checked the other 2, but they appear to be un-affected.... i immediately turned the temperature up to 85 degrees, and added 3/4 tablespoon of salt (10 gallon tank) and am going to add the other 1 1/4 tablespoons later on... have i gone about this right?

The ich infestation seems to be pretty bad on these 2 fish, they're pretty well covered in these salt-like spots, and one of them doesn't look too well at all....

have i done this right?
 
Hmmmm............I have always only added one tsp salt per 200 gal. That's in normal times. I could be wrong but I believe some say one TBSP per ten gal for Ich. I'm not sure but you could check on this. Raising temp is good. You did ok. Also you can buy Ich Medicine. Be careful with meds though and when adding any new fish. If you look aroud the forum you will find Ich answers and questions. Good luck.
 
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A tablespoon of salt in ten gallons is unlikely to eliminate ich. Old-time fishkeepers used to keep that much salt in freshwater aquariums just for good luck.

Better look at the standard fish health websites for professionally recommended salt bath concentrations.
 
I would recommend a medicine called "QuICK Cure".
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It works very well. To get the little sists off the fish, you have to "dip" them in the medicine. You put about 10-15 drops in about a cup of water and put the fish in for a few minutes. Doing this about 3-4 times will get the sists off. Then, if you have any carbon in your filter, take it out and treat your tank. Use the salt also with a raised temp.

HTH
 
WetmanNY, i used 2 Tablespoons of salt for the 10 gallons

I woke up this morning to find the worst affected Comet feeder had died overnight, and the other one looks like it won't make it through tonight. Strangely, the other 2 fish seem un-affected. Thanks for your help so far everyone
 
Does Quick Cure really treat the cysts on the fish? I was under the impression that wasn't possible.
 
A problem is that the embedded cysts will soon mature and drop away, and it will seem that the short-term baths have done the job.

Whatever became of the fine old successful practice of having three isolation tanks at 86o. The sick fish was moved to the next tank in the series every other day, and by the time it got back to Tank #1, the Ich swarmers had perished. No medication ever stressed the infected fish.

Doesn't anybody have three Quarantine Tanks any more? Ah, the old days, when the gardener's helper came in to do the water changes. All you did was give the fish a pinch of flakes. "Oh, don't come in just now, Maud, the Paradisefish are, er, ...spawning."
 
Three QT tanks? I can't get folk to use one...

BTW, I have 5, but not used as suggested.

I don't unfortunately have a gardener's helper. I don't even have a gardener. Nor a personal assstant, personal trainer, secretary, bulter, houseboy, housekeeper, maid, dog walker, cook, or driver - I'm deprived.
 
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