White spots, oh no!!!

[RollendChang]

Hello,

I looked in my tank today and my Clown loaches have white spots on them it kind of looks like sand but I watched them for about some time and I decided it is not sand. The funny thing is that my tiger barbs nor my pleco have these spots on them. Can any one help identify this problem and tell me how to solve it.

 

[Archangel]

Sounds like the dreaded bane of all Aquarists: ICK. All loaches are extremely succecetible to it, usually cause by stress or poor water conditions.

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

Should help you out.

 

[jd_7655]

Ich the best product on the market to treat it is quick cure if you can find it and make sure to remove your carbon when you do

 

[daveedka]

Sounds like the dreaded bane of all Aquarists: ICK. All loaches are extremely succecetible to it, usually cause by stress or poor water conditions.

ICH is a parasite, and while stress can cause fish to be more succeptable to it, it is caused by the parasite being in your tank. not caused by stress. It will live on healthy happy fish but usually only shows a large outbreak on stressed fish or fish that are very prone to ich such as you loaches and many smooth skinned cats.
I don't use or reccomend meds, but salt will kill ich, and elevated temperatures will speed it up and get it off of your fish sooner, tems above 86* will kill it as well. Here is a pretty good article, it covers salt, meds, and most importantly the life cycle of ich and how to kill it. I would keep up treatment for a minimum of one week after the spots are gone. the article suggests that less time is needed, but I am a better safe than sorry hobbyist.
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml
Also one for salt in case you have questions on what salt is safe to use. I use iodized table salt with no problems.
http://www.aaquaria.com/aquasource/salt.shtml

HTH,
dave