Ich

[kcfehring]

Okay, I think that my six line wrasse may have ich. This evening for the first time I noticed what looked like little white spots all over her body and fins. This is the first time I have noticed it and I look at all my tank inhabitants many times a day. Right now she is eating fine, is not scratching on rocks, and her eyes are fine. (These are other things that I read may be symptoms of ich)

I am in the process of setting up a hospital tank. Bare bottom, pvc for hideing and hob filter. I have only had this fish for about a week...and no I did not quarentine her. I know you can take me out and flog me later, it can not be any worse than what I have been doing to myself this evening. I always thought that a q/t tank was being a little too paranoid and alot of needless work, however now that I am facing taking down all my rock work to catch the little fish I have a wonderful new view on the whole q/t tank.

So now I have a fes questions.

1. Do I need to do anything to my display tank once I get the fish out? I am sure I will need to do a water change, but do I need to vacuum my sand, scrub rock, put anything in the water? I read that fish that have ich will sometimes rub up agains rocks and that cysts will fall into the sand bed...does something need to be done about that?

2. Would it be best just to give the fish the garlic soaked food and lots of water changes with low salinity or do I need some type of antibiotic or copper or something like that.

3. How is it passed and should I be looking for any other type of symptoms for my other fish?

Thanks

[hma]

In no case medicines (antibiotics or copper) to the DT give. Around the bacteria density in the DT to keep low I use a strong UV-C light, help very well. I feed except garlic also strengthened with vitamin (Lipovit), also help quite well.

[Melanie]

I found this article that describes many different treatment options very helpful. Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans

I do always use a QT tank and my last fish was ich infected. My fish eventually died. Now I'm letting the QT fallow for a few months to let the ich die (without a host).

[prow]

Originally Posted by kcfehring

I know you can take me out and flog me later, it can not be any worse than what I have been doing to myself this evening.

OOOoooo yes it can, just a little flogging for now ............... ............

I always thought that a q/t tank was being a little too paranoid and alot of needless work, however now that I am facing taking down all my rock work to catch the little fish I have a wonderful new view on the whole q/t tank.

.................FYI; once you start doing QT's you will find its not that much work and your new additions will adjust to the main tank alot better. hard to feed fish have a chance to eat before and keep stronger, so it will not get so beat up. plus the whole no ick thing.

1. Do I need to do anything to my display tank once I get the fish out? I am sure I will need to do a water change, but do I need to vacuum my sand, scrub rock, put anything in the water? I read that fish that have ich will sometimes rub up agains rocks and that cysts will fall into the sand bed...does something need to be done about that?

if you leave it fish less, the ick will die off on its own in 4-6weeks. about the time it will take to complete a QT and treatment of the infected fish.

2. Would it be best just to give the fish the garlic soaked food and lots of water changes with low salinity or do I need some type of antibiotic or copper or something like that.

no, hyposalinity will kill off much of you bio and any iverts you have. you can do it and rebuild your bio later but lots of issue come with it. like lots of die with no biofiltration= a recycle.

3. How is it passed and should I be looking for any other type of symptoms for my other fish?

here is a link on the life cycle and how it infects fish ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Marine "Ich" or this one might be better Aquarium Fish


for treatments i like hyposalinity. hyposalinity reduces stress, eases breathing, decreases the fishes metabolic rates reducing O2 demands. ich can not handle the osmotic changes and their cell membranes burst. here is a link about some of the benefits. Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - Aquarium Fish: Applications for Hyposalinity Therapy: The Benefits of Salinity Manipulation for Marine Fish

you know what here let my give you a series of articles on ich;
Marine Ich/Cryptocaryon irritans - A Discussion of this Parasite and the Treatment Options Available, Part I by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com
Aquarium Fish
Aquarium Fish
Aquarium Fish
Aquarium Fish
Aquarium Fish


hyposalinity is what i like and has worked well for me.