My niece's tank has ick...

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-19-2013, 08:39 PM

My niece always calls me with fish issues and I wanted to check on this before really telling her what to do. She has a 50 gal tank and water perms are all good (Ammonia and nitrites are 0 and nitrates are low.. forgot exact but still good) Anyway she brought home some Black tetras 2 days ago and they all had ick. Now her tank which has cories and otos in it is full of ick. Don't even start in on the quarantine that she should have done. :-) No other tank just like me. She is in a different state too where it's hard to find stores that sell things.

I've always had good luck with raised temps and salt. But with the tetras and cories, I told her to hold off till I asked here to be certain. I think she also has Neon tetras like I do and Harl. Rasboras and mollies. What would be her best choice of action?

**Cermet** · 02-19-2013, 08:44 PM

I just answered this for someone else. This treatment depends on who is doing it; a commercial treatment for Ick is reather easy and these have good directions. Some Ick may not be cured with these meds. You can find out by trying one. All lfs and department stores with pet supplies carry ick med.

Salt and heat always works but takes some time and careful addition of salt (replacing lost salt with water changes) and is not for everyone.

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-19-2013, 08:48 PM

She can do difficult... its a matter of not killing the cories or tetras to treat it. What is safe for them Medicine wise?
Pretty much she has a walmart unless she travels 100 miles for a petstore. How high can temps go for cories?

**Sandz** · 02-19-2013, 08:57 PM

slowly raise temp from current temp to 84-86. Personally I monitor up to 90degrees without ill effects but its up to you to go that extreme.

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-19-2013, 08:59 PM

Ok and those fish can handle the high temps and salt?

Any idea of how long she will need to treat with salt so she knows how much salt to buy?

**fishmommie** · 02-19-2013, 09:00 PM

+ to Cermet and Sandz

I've successfully treated ich with heat only. The trick is to get the temp up to 86 and keep it there for 5 - 7 days AFTER she sees the last spot on her fish. then slowly lower the temp, do several partial water changes and vac the heck out of the tank

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-19-2013, 11:43 PM

Ok. And since its been awhile since I've done any ICK treatments...
What steps do I tell her if she chooses salt? How much per gal, Is it still vacumn and W/C every day or every other?

I've always done the salt/heat mix but never did mine that high.. I think I stayed at 80F.
She says her walmart has Jungle Ick Cure but that it states its too strong for cories and to get Ick Cure II - which walmart doesn't have. Of course! I've always had issues with meds and always loose a fish with them and never lose with salt. Just want to make sure I'm telling her right and getting her a full list of info. She doesn't have internet so I'm her voice. Thank you so much.

**fishmommie** · 02-19-2013, 11:48 PM

because she has cories which are salt sensitive fish, just stick with heat. 86F

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-19-2013, 11:54 PM

ok. I did treat my cories once with salt and they did ok. Maybe because I had mollies at the time I kept it brackish and they were more adapted to it. I don't thin she salts hers. Thanks I'll give her a call.

**Countrylovin4evr** · 02-21-2013, 08:59 PM

Quick update and new question.
Her fish are doing well though 2 of the 3 did not survive. The 3rd one still has spots on it though no other fish have. I thought after a few days of high temps the spots should have dropped off and be trying to reproduce by now right? Am beginning to wonder if her fish have ick or not . I've never heard of if holding on like that.