Striped Rafael with cloudy eyes

[Napoli]

I just had a big Ich infestation, and lost my pictus cat, 2 clown loaches, and my Striped Rafael isn't looking too good. None of them had Ich too bad, so I'm wondering if they couldn't tolerate the medicine. I used RidIch+ (a formaldehyde/malachite green mix) which I had been told is a very safe and effective medicine. now the rafael seems to be covered in a whitish slime (his eyes are an opaque white) and his scales, especiall along his side, are standing on end. Any ideas?
Thanks
<<NWN>>

 

[OrionGirl]

Have you been monitoring the tank for ammonia/nitrites? Medications, even those claiming to be safe, can reduce or eliminate the beneficial bacteria in your tank. Without these, ammonia/nitrite toxicity can kill fish, as well as make them prone to secondary infections (always a concern with severe cases of ich, no matter what treatment is used). This sounds like a bacterial infection, possibly the result of the slime coat being reduced by the medications.

I would remove the fish to quarantine and treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. I would not treat the main tank this way, as broad spectrum antibiotics will kill the beneficial bacteria. You'll need to do daily, large water changes for the quarantine tank.

 

[Napoli]

Thanks for the advice OG. Ammonia/Nitrate levels in my tank stayed pretty good. I did move the Rafael to a quarentine tank, but it was too late...he died within a day. All the fish (10 tiger barbs, a clown pleco, and an albino rainbow shark) in my big tank look great. for how long should I keep treating for ich? and should I treat for bacteria/fungal infections even if the fish look healthy? I'd eventually like to get a clown loach and a bala shark...any recommendations on how long I should wait? Thanks again,
NWN

 

[OrionGirl]

If you are using a medication, treat for the course suggested by the label. With the slat/heat treatment, I treat for 3 weeks past the last visible sign of the parasite.

I do not think medicating fish that appear healthy is a good idea. Many fish are sensitive to medications, some medications will kill off your beneficial bacteria, and as in humans, ineffective treatments can raise the resistance of the bug.