Urgent Ich Question!

Reefaholic · 02-08-2005, 05:29 PM

I noticed yesterday that one of my false perc. clowns has a few white spots that I am almost 100% positive is ich. I have had them for probably 6 weeks and this is the first time I have noticed it, and I look at my tank for hours each day like most people do just watching them swim and do what they do. I have a pair of them also a wild caught black clown that I have had for 3-4 weeks and a scooter blenny in there for 3-4 weeks and never noticed any on them. Ijust think it is very strange that all of a sudden these spots showed up, considering how long they have been in there and no signs of trouble. It is still eating like crazy every time I feed them and shows no signs of stress, still looks as healthy as he has in the past. My options are limited considering I don't have a quar. tank so with that said should I be worried since all the fish seem extremely healthy and still eating very well, what are my options to get rid of this. Any help will be much appreciated. Is ther anyway I can treat the tank as a whole? Are their any natural predators for ich?

LisaB · 02-08-2005, 05:39 PM

Do you have invertabrates in your tank? Live Rock? How you treat depends on what else you have besides fish. Tell us more about your set up. Size, filtration, occupants.

Reefaholic · 02-08-2005, 05:41 PM

I have about 52lbs of LR, 3-4 starfish, 8-10 snails, it is 36 gall. aq. pro. skimmer, trickle filter, ph's, etc. your usual reef setup. I have only had it running for a couple of months and a few weeks back finished cycling.

Reef Geek · 02-08-2005, 06:04 PM

Its not good to mix different kinds of clowns. They are very territorial!!! The fish is probably stressed. Sorry to say it, but I would remove one of the clowns.
It is also VERY rare for clowns to get ich. As far as treatment, nothing beats good water quality and low stress. You could also try a garlic food supplement.

Reefaholic · 02-08-2005, 07:43 PM

All the fish get along great, to me none of the fish show any signs of stress, but if it does not go away I may remove the black one as the other is in a pair. Will the garlic supplement help remove the ich or is it just a stimulant to get them to eat because he still eats like a pig!

cheeks69 · 02-08-2005, 08:34 PM

The garlic is more a preventative measure, once Ick is introduced into the tank even though the fish may recover from the infection it will always be a problem that's why a QT is so important. The only way to completely eliminate the parasite is to remove all the fish put them on a QT and treat them with Hyposalinity or Copper. You must leave the main display fish free for a minimum of 4-6 weeks.

It's possible that the fish may recover on their own but since your tank hasn't matured and will go thru fluctuations it's not likely JMHO.

Here's some good reading material on Ick:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/mini1.htm

swissgaurd · 02-13-2005, 11:58 AM

ich
think of it like the common cold
your healthy one day and sick the next
how did i get it.
now how to prevent it

one way i have found to prevent it is the use of garlic addition to food
i use kyolic garlic tablets
1 tablet dissolved in 2 ounces of water
i add a few drops of this solution to fish food everytime i feed
i have been using garlic for approx. 4 yrs now with excellent results
i swear by this now

vic

big tanner · 02-15-2005, 12:27 PM

don't worry about it! it'll go away on its own i bet you money!!

marinelover · 02-15-2005, 02:05 PM

First of all how long has your clowns been together if they have paired, is the one that has the "ick" smaller of the two common clowns. B/c if so the larger female will beat up on it without us evening knowing she is doing so. ( By stressing him out and staying close to him and making him do what she wants. Not necessarily by beating up on him.) So keep a close eye to see your clowns interactions!! Also from where she has been hitting him he can get an infection. And then develope some white fungus bumps that look like sores. So make total sure that this isnt it.

Since you have invertebrates copper based treatments are out!!

You can also look into a cleaner shrimp. But make sure to get a nice healthy one. Garlic is great but only a preventative. To break it down it makes the disease cysts harder to stick to the fish and also biulds up the fishes immunity!! So once this passes look into it if you want or just feed high quality fare. A lot of good fish foods have prepared garlic in them already..
But if they havent paired yet they might so watch out for it and if they do get the third clown out b/c they will beat on him.

oldsaint · 02-15-2005, 03:23 PM

Don't rule out lymphocystis. From my understanding it is pretty common in clowns.
Here's a little more info http://www.seasky.org/aquarium/sea3e.html it's about half way down the page.

Reefaholic · 02-15-2005, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the help everyone!

gussy · 02-15-2005, 10:22 PM

Well, I move all my fishes to a QT for a 4-week hyposalinity treatment 2 weeks ago. Without the rock works and anemone to hid, my 2.5" saddleback and 2" firefish was eated by my 2" angler! I guess I don't have to worry about the ich for those two.

cheeks69 · 02-15-2005, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gussy

Well, I move all my fishes to a QT for a 4-week hyposalinity treatment 2 weeks ago. Without the rock works and anemone to hid, my 2.5" saddleback and 2" firefish was eated by my 2" angler! I guess I don't have to worry about the ich for those two.

Wow he ate the saddleback ? I have read that they will eat prey bigger than themselves but that's crazy

Do you have a pic of the Angler ?

gussy · 02-15-2005, 10:51 PM

I wouldn't have believed it myself if I didn't see it myself! First my firefish went missing in the QT, then a few days later my saddleback. I suspected the angler as there the tank it tight and there is no rock to hide. So I did a test by moving one of my bigger guppy...I am sure the guppy is either the same size or slightly bigger. As the guppy was in a state of shock from the change to saltwater, the angler just swam up and ate it in one gulp! The only other fishes that are left in the QT are the domino damsel and royal gamma. I'll take a picture tonight and post it by tomorrow.

mps9506 · 02-15-2005, 10:52 PM

We have a 3 inch green warty frogfish in our store, the mouth on it has to be like 4 inches when he opens up. How his mouth is bigger than his body, I dunno.
I have no doubts it is capable of eating some very expensive livestock.

02-08-2005, 05:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Reefaholic Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	Urgent Ich Question! I noticed yesterday that one of my false perc. clowns has a few white spots that I am almost 100% positive is ich. I have had them for probably 6 weeks and this is the first time I have noticed it, and I look at my tank for hours each day like most people do just watching them swim and do what they do. I have a pair of them also a wild caught black clown that I have had for 3-4 weeks and a scooter blenny in there for 3-4 weeks and never noticed any on them. Ijust think it is very strange that all of a sudden these spots showed up, considering how long they have been in there and no signs of trouble. It is still eating like crazy every time I feed them and shows no signs of stress, still looks as healthy as he has in the past. My options are limited considering I don't have a quar. tank so with that said should I be worried since all the fish seem extremely healthy and still eating very well, what are my options to get rid of this. Any help will be much appreciated. Is ther anyway I can treat the tank as a whole? Are their any natural predators for ich?

02-08-2005, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
LisaB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 60 View Gallery Karma Komment	Do you have invertabrates in your tank? Live Rock? How you treat depends on what else you have besides fish. Tell us more about your set up. Size, filtration, occupants. __________________ LisaB "Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." Douglas Adams, GRHS

02-08-2005, 06:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Reef Geek Reefus Geekus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 325 View Gallery Karma Komment	Its not good to mix different kinds of clowns. They are very territorial!!! The fish is probably stressed. Sorry to say it, but I would remove one of the clowns. It is also VERY rare for clowns to get ich. As far as treatment, nothing beats good water quality and low stress. You could also try a garlic food supplement. __________________ Justin Stealth Reefer

02-08-2005, 08:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,386 View Gallery Karma Komment	The garlic is more a preventative measure, once Ick is introduced into the tank even though the fish may recover from the infection it will always be a problem that's why a QT is so important. The only way to completely eliminate the parasite is to remove all the fish put them on a QT and treat them with Hyposalinity or Copper. You must leave the main display fish free for a minimum of 4-6 weeks. It's possible that the fish may recover on their own but since your tank hasn't matured and will go thru fluctuations it's not likely JMHO. Here's some good reading material on Ick: http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...marineich.html http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/mini1.htm __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

02-15-2005, 10:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	We have a 3 inch green warty frogfish in our store, the mouth on it has to be like 4 inches when he opens up. How his mouth is bigger than his body, I dunno. I have no doubts it is capable of eating some very expensive livestock. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

02-08-2005, 05:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Reefaholic Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have about 52lbs of LR, 3-4 starfish, 8-10 snails, it is 36 gall. aq. pro. skimmer, trickle filter, ph's, etc. your usual reef setup. I have only had it running for a couple of months and a few weeks back finished cycling.

02-08-2005, 07:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Reefaholic Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	All the fish get along great, to me none of the fish show any signs of stress, but if it does not go away I may remove the black one as the other is in a pair. Will the garlic supplement help remove the ich or is it just a stimulant to get them to eat because he still eats like a pig!

02-13-2005, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
swissgaurd Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: mississauga,canada Posts: 540 View Gallery Karma Komment	ich think of it like the common cold your healthy one day and sick the next how did i get it. now how to prevent it one way i have found to prevent it is the use of garlic addition to food i use kyolic garlic tablets 1 tablet dissolved in 2 ounces of water i add a few drops of this solution to fish food everytime i feed i have been using garlic for approx. 4 yrs now with excellent results i swear by this now vic

02-15-2005, 12:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
big tanner Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland, Tennessee Posts: 220 View Gallery Karma Komment	don't worry about it! it'll go away on its own i bet you money!!

02-15-2005, 02:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
marinelover Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	First of all how long has your clowns been together if they have paired, is the one that has the "ick" smaller of the two common clowns. B/c if so the larger female will beat up on it without us evening knowing she is doing so. ( By stressing him out and staying close to him and making him do what she wants. Not necessarily by beating up on him.) So keep a close eye to see your clowns interactions!! Also from where she has been hitting him he can get an infection. And then develope some white fungus bumps that look like sores. So make total sure that this isnt it. Since you have invertebrates copper based treatments are out!! You can also look into a cleaner shrimp. But make sure to get a nice healthy one. Garlic is great but only a preventative. To break it down it makes the disease cysts harder to stick to the fish and also biulds up the fishes immunity!! So once this passes look into it if you want or just feed high quality fare. A lot of good fish foods have prepared garlic in them already.. But if they havent paired yet they might so watch out for it and if they do get the third clown out b/c they will beat on him.

02-15-2005, 03:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
oldsaint Ricordea Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Brandon, Fl Posts: 196 View Gallery Karma Komment	Don't rule out lymphocystis. From my understanding it is pretty common in clowns. Here's a little more info http://www.seasky.org/aquarium/sea3e.html it's about half way down the page.

02-15-2005, 04:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Reefaholic Midas Blenny Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the help everyone!

02-15-2005, 10:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
gussy Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 579 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, I move all my fishes to a QT for a 4-week hyposalinity treatment 2 weeks ago. Without the rock works and anemone to hid, my 2.5" saddleback and 2" firefish was eated by my 2" angler! I guess I don't have to worry about the ich for those two.

02-15-2005, 10:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
gussy Torch coral Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 579 View Gallery Karma Komment	I wouldn't have believed it myself if I didn't see it myself! First my firefish went missing in the QT, then a few days later my saddleback. I suspected the angler as there the tank it tight and there is no rock to hide. So I did a test by moving one of my bigger guppy...I am sure the guppy is either the same size or slightly bigger. As the guppy was in a state of shock from the change to saltwater, the angler just swam up and ate it in one gulp! The only other fishes that are left in the QT are the domino damsel and royal gamma. I'll take a picture tonight and post it by tomorrow.

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