Safe Ich med for Clown Loaches?

anyone? before it gets swept under the carpet for another week?
 
Hi Tay, sorry you're still having the problem. Hiding in the cave shouldn't prevent the stuff from working. It's the medicine in the water that is supposed to kill the parasite in the free swimming stage.

I don't know why it's not working. It cured my tank. The only thing I can say you can either try the other med you mentioned or try the heat/salt method. I think that's what I will do from now on, if I ever get Ich again.

I've seen so many threads about Ich and all the pros here recommend heat/salt. I've seen the mods recommend it and advocate it as a safe method. The invert eperts here on AC have indicated that snails and shrimp can tolerate it in the proper dose. Same thing for corys and bottom feeders.

I think there's a sticky about it, but I"m going to go look for it. Be right back.
 
Hi again Melody
and thanks for keeping up to date on this issue...I really appreciate all your help and support honestly

I talked to the best fish keeper at a LFS (big als) close to me
He was suggesting that maybe I should use some garlic to boost the fishes immune system...which doesn't seem like a bad idea to be honest seeing as it is only that one specific clown loach that still has spots...the others have been spot free for about 2 weeks now as well as my 4 albino cory's

He still has about 3 spots on him today and I've started soaking their food with Garlic Guard before feeding (they go nuts for it lol who thought fish would love garlic so much?)

I have stopped treating with IchAttack or any Ich medicine for about 3 days now...I want to give the fish a break before I switch to something else and get my water at least looking and smelling like it should (the smell still bothers me lol)

I don't know if this is such a great idea...but I thought going straight into another med might harm the fish as I have been medding for about a month already...they're hiding all day now (all of them...not just the big guy) so I'm starting to get worried

at least the big guy is sharing his cave now lol
 
I just found this while doing some research on lunch...

http://aquariumlore.blogspot.com/2008/04/sexing-clown-loaches.html

I think this is what I am seeing on the big guy...I'll have to look very closely at his head tonight which will be extremely difficult because he hides 24 hours a day except during morning feeding

wouldn't that be cool? and stupid me if that is the case
 
Tay that would be just awesome!! Is this what it looks like? I looked at the link and read the info. I never knew this either. Don't feel bad. One day you'll look back on this "month or more from hell" that you went through trying to cure the guy of having testosterone.

Hey, if this is it, at least the Ich Attack has taken care of any other unkown parasites in the tank that are affected by the stuff.
(Which, according to the research biologist at Kordon, are quite a few)
 
he does have them on his head...but the ones on his head look different from the ones on his tail fin and body...the ones on his tail and body are larger in size and much more visible

I'll give them a couple more days of no meds and do a big WC tomorrow night then start medding on saturday again...I think I might try salt and heat for a week first if it really is that effective...with the salt and heat treatment, how long after the last spots are gone should i continue to use the treatment for? 5 days after the last spots are gone?

would a combo of salt + heat and ich attack be better? to kill of the free swimmers while they're floating?
 
my local stock is not so great. i was very cautious and still had to deal with ich 3 or 4 times. the only thing i found that worked for me was quickcure. i got it at walmart for cheaper than at any lfs. it contains the 2 most useful ingredients (formalin and malachite green which stains silicone and turns water green). supposedly they compliment each other. it does kill your beneficial bacteria and lowers your o2 content so heavy airation is necessary.
anyway i used a couple products... forget what they were though... and the salt/heat method but salt wasn't an option as i found out the hard way and only quickcure worked for me.
it is very stressful regardless and water changes are imperative imo.
i could be wrong but that is my experience and i am by no means a professional.
 
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At this point I think I'd go with the heat/salt method. The right temp will speed the whole process up, and all occupants should tolerate it well.

I wouldn't do heat/salt and any med, Ich Attack or otherwise. I'd just go with the heat salt method. There's a sticky on this method, I'm going to go find it.

Btw, can you post any pics of your guy? It sure would be helpful to see what you are seeing.
 
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1657382&postcount=2

This is the link that gives detailed information regarding the heat/salt method of treating Ich. Follow this to the letter and you should get rid of Ich finally.

Once through with this protocol you will have killed all Ich in your tank. Then, always quarantine any new additions to prevent re-introduction of the protozoan into your tank.

I think some of the Ich meds mentioned are good, but they are pretty potent and stressful, and at this point I believe the best course would be heat/salt, at least that's what I would do.
 
I will try to get a picture tomorrow morning.
I have 2 big CL's and 4 smaller ones...problem is the biggest guy (who is the only one continually getting the spots) only comes out in the morning for his food...then hides all day long until the next morning

so I will try to get a picture...but he's super skittish
he's gotten a lot better since I got him to be honest
when I first got the big guy I swear I didn't see him for a full week...I was actually worried he died lol

but now he's getting used to me and actually schools with the other younger loaches in the morning which is a huge improvement

I think I will specifically keep clown loaches in the near future
I have never seen a fish with so much personality short of dolphins...which are mammals lol
 
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