Ich problem... questions about it...

[bassboi]

I have a 10g tank with 4 fish...

2 gourami's
1 zebra danio
1 pleco

I currently have an ich problem... it seems the gourami's and the pleco have it, but it doesn't look like the danio has it.

i'm not entirely sure if this parasite can be completely removed from the tank....

one of my questions is... if i were to transfer one of the fish from this tank, into a larger 29 gallon tank that currently has no fish in it... will the tank be infected with ich?

another question is... how would i effectively treat the ich?

right now i gradually raised the temp to 86F and been using the salt method... i have a bottle of Rid-Ich+ by Kordon, but I read somewhere that it won't be effective when the water temperature is high...

any help would be greatly appreciated... i lost a total of 16 fish so far due to ich :(

thanks in advance!

[Lady Hobbs]

You need to treat the tank so leave the fish right in the tank. Transferring fish will transfer the ick. Follow the directions on the med you get because ick is still in the tank even after you don't see it on the fish anymore. It reproduces on the floor of the tank. You do need to treat them pronto or it will kill them. Ick will get in their gills and smother them.

There are many treatments available to treat ick......even the Jungle Labs drop in pellets at Walmart work well. You can not use salt with the pleco but you can raise the temps to shorten up the ick life -cycle.....but meds are still needed.

[sergo]

it's going to be a slow painful, drawn out process but hang in there and follow the directions and you should come out ok.

[bassboi]

thanks for the replies guys, it's much well appreciated...

must i note that i have also been getting emails from Tetra Care sicne that's the manufacturer of my tank, and they've told me to add just 1 fish to the aquarium, to start the cycle, and wait 4~6 weeks before adding more... they've also been keeping me in touch on the whole process of everything, too... it's rather cool, if you as me...

now...

right now i have gradually raised the temp to 86F and been using the salt method... i have a bottle of Rid-Ich+ by Kordon, but I read somewhere that it won't be effective when the water temperature is high...

is this true?

One more question, is it possible to completely get rid of the ich?!

thanks in advance!

[bassboi]

anyone want to help?

[cocoa_pleco]

higher temperature is good to fight off diseases.

Ich can never be totally eliminated, but with a UV sterilizer most can. Ich is free swimming in the tank ALWAYS, but fish become a target to it when they are stressed and cant fight it off

[Lady Hobbs]

cocoa pleco is correct.....it is claimed that ick is always present in the tank and the fish that are stressed or have lost their slime coat are those that get infected. Larger water changes help reduce the amount in your tank, as well. I only had two episodes of ick......both were with the introduction of new fish I had purchased. It was cleared up easily with ick meds.

Many fish can not tolerate salt and pleco's are one of them. Problem is, pleco's also don't tolerate the meds well. I think it's a toss up which you use.

[roulfi004]

Moreover, the longer u can treat ick, the better:

The Treatment i used was to put the SERA medicine 1ce every 2 days, and in 4 days (2 times) ich is gone. But, it is usualy advised to put the medicine for 6 or 8 days, to stop any new cycle of Ich.

Increasing temperature is better to remove ich, it will speed its cycle, and the faster it is, the better chances it is killed by your medicine

Usually, most fish treated for ich will be more resilient vs Ich next time.

Good luck

[Lady Hobbs]

Good to use half dosages with pleco's, as well.

[bassboi]

thanks for all the help, it's much much appreciated... i can't thank you guys enough!

I picked up some stuff that supposedly clears up ich in 2 days... it contains malachite green and formalin, so i'm assuming it's some good stuff

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