Advice for Ich

[johnsonlee42]

I'm relatively new at this saltwater fishkeeping thing so I wanted some advice... I got a pajama cardinal for a major discount at Petco Union Square because it has a case of Ich... when I got home I put it in a quarantine tank and put in the recommended dosage of Quick Cure of 1 drop per gallon. I've only given it one dosage, but I was wondering if there's any other action I should be taking or trying - I'm hoping that with some TLC it'll be healthy enough to add into my main tank in a week or so. :spin:

Suggestions?

Thanks!!

Johnson

 

[House of Laughter]

feed it garlic soaked food as well and don't keep the lights on for too long.

HTH

House

 

[johnsonlee42]

What exactly does garlic do for fish? Is it an immuno-booster, or does it encourage fish to eat?

 

[ellebelle]

You can also try hyposalinity. Slowly lower the salinity of the tank very slowly, one cup of freshwater at a time.

 

[DevIouS]

Both really....
There is debate, but I did see it help when I went through my Ich bout.
I still use garlic daily even though there are no signs of Ich.

Is he eating?


I don't see it as being a discount, for all the work you have to put in now.....for a $10 fish

 

[DevIouS]

You can also try hyposalinity. Slowly lower the salinity of the tank very slowly, one cup of freshwater at a time.

More to it than that......

 

[johnsonlee42]

Hmmm I don't really mind the work, haha - they were selling it for $15 (slightly more expensive than what they're usually worth online I know), so I saved more like $10 - that's like TWO MEALS at Wendy's!

I'll definitely try to garlic soaked food - I just got him today and put in some brine shrimp, which he took a bite or two of.

I was thinking of a freshwater dip, but I've never done one with fish before and I'm afraid of stressing the poor guy out. In regard to the hyposalinity method, how low should I go?

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Johnson

 

[DevIouS]

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/hyposalinity.htmlhttp://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/general-discussion/1246-ich-help-2.html?highlight=hyposalinity

 

[DevIouS]

http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_1.html


Fresh water dips are not recommended.

 

[ReeferGoneMad]

Don't dip. Just maintain water temp at a constant temp if say 75. And feed a variety of foods with garlic.not just brine shrimp.mysis, cyclopeeze, any planktonic food soaked in garlic.if u want it to go away quicker. Dipping it will just stress the fish and could cause it to go into shock and that's what will kill it. Allow the salt levels to remain the same. Don't let temp or salinity to drop maintain them and u will maintain the ich.

 

[marrone]

If you're going to treat with copper get a good copper like Copper Power or Seatest Copper. Also you need to get a copper test kits to make sure you're treating at the close dosage.

Fresh water dips don't work as the ich spores are embedded in the fish and a dip isn't going to remove many if any at all. A fresh water bath of 20-25 min, or as long as the fish can take, it is better. Even that mayn't have an effect on the ich and it's better to treat with either copper or hyposaility.

Also it's good to either leave the light on in the tank or a light near the tank as this will keep the fish from going to sleep. Once a fish goes to sleep it's resistance is down and this will cause the ich to take a great told on the fish. By leaving the lights on the fish will be active and have a better chance to fight off the ich.

I think Phil is right, you're putting in a lot of work and cost in for a common fish and the savings isn't worth it. Just think you could get a health fish for a little bit more and not have to go through the treating process, and you may still lose the fish.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

If you're going to treat with copper get a good copper like Copper Power or Seatest Copper. Also you need to get a copper test kits to make sure you're treating at the close dosage.

Fresh water dips don't work as the ich spores are embedded in the fish and a dip isn't going to remove many if any at all. A fresh water bath of 20-25 min, or as long as the fish can take, it is better. Even that mayn't have an effect on the ich and it's better to treat with either copper or hyposaility.

Also it's good to either leave the light on in the tank or a light near the tank as this will keep the fish from going to sleep. Once a fish goes to sleep it's resistance is down and this will cause the ich to take a great told on the fish. By leaving the lights on the fish will be active and have a better chance to fight off the ich.

I think Phil is right, you're putting in a lot of work and cost in for a common fish and the savings isn't worth it. Just think you could get a health fish for a little bit more and not have to go through the treating process, and you may still lose the fish.

Agreed on all his points including it does not look like a saving at all.

However, it's good to practice curing a fish early on before a real disaster strikes your beloved display tank unprepared. I found so many well QTed LS(at least the owners said they did QT them well) still developed ich and other parasites that I think learning how to spot and cured a sick fish early on could be very beneficial in the long run. Tell us how it does and hopefully with some pic because it let us know what phase of illness your fish is at and some experience fish healers can help you to choose the right treatment.

 

[johnsonlee42]

Thanks for the advice guys! Yeah it definitely seems to be not worth the trouble, but oh well, I dug myself into a hole so I'm definitely going to try my best to save the guy... but yeah hopefully it'll be good practice. Putting garlic in fish food? I've never heard of such craziness!! But hey if you guys say that it works then I'll definitely try it. =)

Johnson

 

[crox99]

Hypo is the best way to.

 

[WaterPlant]

Putting garlic in fish food? I've never heard of such craziness!! But hey if you guys say that it works then I'll definitely try it. =)

Johnson

sound crazy to me at first but after I saw it done by others with my own eyes, i am now a believer. more so, i found that fish eat garlic added food more than plain regular food.