Trying Heat Treatment for Ich, wish me luck!

[coachfraley]

I started a planted 10g tank with some tiger barbs about a 6 days ago and I just realized that I have an ich infestation! The fish were scratching their sides on plants ever since I purchased them, but I am new to tiger barbs, so I didn't know if that was just common barb behavior. This morning I noticed spots on 3 of my barbs.

Did a lot of reading on treating ich in planted tanks, and the high temp treatment seemed to be the best approach.

I drained some water out to increase the surface agitation (O2), and I am slowly moving the temp up to 86F. I will let you all know how it goes.

Needless to say, I am really pissed at the LFS that sold me these poor guys. This was my first time buying fish there and it will be my last.

Peace

[Drumachine09]

Obviouisly, you cant add most meds to a planted tank. But you knew that, which is good. I have heard adding 1 teaspoon of aquarium salt per 10 gallons also helps to combat ick. I am not sure if tiger barbs can handle salt, so you might have to check into that.

[fraley]

surely your names not Fraley!!

[Drumachine09]

surely your names not Fraley!!


OhhoooOOOHHHH! What a coincidence!

[xoolooxunny]

I started a planted 10g tank with some tiger barbs about a 6 days ago and I just realized that I have an ich infestation! The fish were scratching their sides on plants ever since I purchased them, but I am new to tiger barbs, so I didn't know if that was just common barb behavior. This morning I noticed spots on 3 of my barbs.

Did a lot of reading on treating ich in planted tanks, and the high temp treatment seemed to be the best approach.

I drained some water out to increase the surface agitation (O2), and I am slowly moving the temp up to 86F. I will let you all know how it goes.

Needless to say, I am really pissed at the LFS that sold me these poor guys. This was my first time buying fish there and it will be my last.

Peace

I'm not sure barbs can take salt either, but make sure you continue water changes, like every day, to remove as many of the free floating parasites as you can. BTW, Fish stores having Ich is not all that uncommon. That's why its safe to have a hospital tank that fish can be moved in to be medicated so you dont bother your bacteria/plants/other inhabitants in your main tank.

[coachfraley]

Yes, my last name is Fraley, should we move this thread to the geneology forum?

[Lady Hobbs]

I think your temps are too high. I wouldn't raise it more than 82. This only speeds up the cycle of ICK but will not kill them. You also will need an ICK med or aquarium salt. As mentioned above, bringing home ICK from a fish store is common. They are mass produced and transported in mass. I do believe fish stores should quarantine their fish for two weeks before selling them, however, but they do not. They haven't enough tanks and need to sell their stock as quickly as possible.

I hate TX but love the COWBOYS!

[jeffs99dime]

good luck with the treatment

[coachfraley]

Well, the temp was up overnight and no lost fish so far...they sure are active with the temp this high, they look like they are enjoying it.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Higer temps increase their metabolism, which makes them more active, but also lowers the amount of oxygen, so good job with the surface agitation. Be sure to vaccum the gravel with the water changes really well to pick up the ich things that fall off the fish and reproduce.
Good luck!

[gm72]

Wow, I think 86 degrees is too high, but if it works, great. I'd worry about long term effects of such a high temp. 82 degrees, as Lady said, is plenty warm enough. Barbs can take the low doses of salt no problem.

Please don't get discouraged by the ick and the fishstore. Without obvious signs of ick the store has no idea what they might have. If you stop shopping at every fish store from which you purchase fish with ick you'll soon be out of fish stores in which to shop!

[coachfraley]

Well, the 10 day heat treatment ended today. I started out the treatment with 4 fish and I lost 2 of them during the course of the treatment. The two that I lost were the two that showed the ich spots when the treatment started, so it seems like the heat can only help those that haven't yet contracted ich.

I think the heat stress and the "heat accelerated" ich led to the demise of the 2 tiger barbs. So I do not think I can really reccommend this treatment unless you are VERY concerned about your plants and not very concerned about your fish. If one of my fully stocked tanks got ich, I would definately go with one of the chemical treatments!

Hope this helps someone.

[gm72]

Well, not too much of a surprise, hence the reason we were saying the temp was too high. HighER temps are a good idea, but not to the extreme you were trying. Agreed though, hopefully this will help others avoid a mistake.