my fish have ich, HELP!!!?

Question

im new to all this, and havent a clue what to do! ive just noticed a few of my fish have white spots on there tails. ive just ordered some treatment off the net. it states its a all in one treatment, that kills all diseses. i have a 3foot tank (L92cm W32cm H38cm) do you think this treatment will be ok?

Answer 1

Ick is a parasite in your aquarium. To dispel some common myths it is not caused by poor water quality or low temperatures, or ammonia, or dirty filters or anything else like that. It does not lurk around in a tank waiting to attack fish, it does not only attack weakened fish, it is not airborne. None of that is true. It is caused by a specific parasite and must be introduced into the tank. This usually happens when you bring in new fish from an infected tank. The best treatment for ick in a tropical aquariums is:

Change a large portion of the water, about 50-60% while cleaning the gravel very well.

Clean the filter and change all the media but leave out the carbon.

Add 2 tablespoons of salt per 5 gallons of the tank.

Raise the temperature to 88-90 F. Raise it slowly, about 1 degree per hour. You may need to add an air stone or two depending on the type of fish and how heavily the tank is stocked.

Add a good ick medication as directed on the bottle. Try to find a medication that used Malachite Green as the active ingredient. (CAUTION: Malachite Green is a known carcinogen. Be careful not to get it on your skin!)

Change 25% or more of the water daily being sure to clean the gravel as you do so.

Continue the treatment for at least 7 days after you see the last white spots on any of the fish.

After the treatment, return the carbon to your filter and lower the temperature to normal.

This will work and will remove the ick from your tank.

MM

Answer 2

It would depend on the treament, but I've yet to have a treatment fail. Generally a bottle will have far more than you need.

PS- Adding a teaspoon of salt per 5 gallons will also help. In some cases you can go up to 1 per 1, but many types of fish can't take that. Fish that can molly, guppy, platy, swordtail, betta, gourami... Just remember to predisolve the salt in a cup of tank water. It you do have salt tolerant fish be sureto go slow, and just go from zero salt 1 teaspoon per gallon at onces.

PPS- Do not raise the temp. This will just speed up ich's life cycle Once you get treament it's okay as the meds only effect the swimming stage of the fish's life cycle. A few fish like betta are very heat resistant (Bettas prefer 75-85F while most fish like 73-82, or lower.) In this case you could crank the temp to 86-87F, but be sure to check the range of temps your fish need and don't go more than 2-3F above.

PPPS- None of the above works as well as an anti-ich med.

Answer 3

My concern is you won't get your treatment fast enough off the net. Go to your local aquarium or pet store and start treating right away. The sooner you act, the better off you'll be.

Isolate the affected fish from any healthy ones in a separate tank and treat both tanks.

Answer 4

First step:
20-25% water change with gravel vac. Most likely your poor water conditions contributed to the outbreak of ich.
Second step:
Raise temperature (no more than 1° per hour) to 85°.
Third step:
Add aquarium salt (not table salt) in the amount of one rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons. If you have scaleless fish, reduce that to one rounded teaspoon per 5 gallons, as they don't tolerate salt.
http://www.aquariumpharm.com/en_us/productCategory.asp?categoryname=WaterConditioners
Fourth step:
After 24 hours, a second 20-25% water change. Add more salt. If you took 5 gallons out in the change, put another rounded tablespoon in. Adjust for your situation.
Fifth step:
Wait 24 hours.
Sixth Step:
A third water change of 20-25% and replace salt removed.
If this does not cure the fish, you will want to use a commercial ich curative, such as copper sulfate like Aquarasol http://www.aq-products.com/APpro/aquarisol.htm
or in more extreme cases, Malachite Green
http://www.aq-products.com/APpro/quickcure.htm

Good Luck

Answer 5

I suggest either you go out right now and buy some Ich Cure from your local pet store, or walmart or anyplace else that sells supplies. If you can't do this then mix some water with about 2 tbs table salt and add this mixture to the aquarium. Carry out 50% water changes each day. Do this for about a week to be safe.

Answer 6

You should go to a pet store and buy an ick medicine. In the mean time as a temporary solution you can throw a penny into your tank. The copper from your penny will start to help cure the disease. (the ingredient in ick medication that helps is copper) Don't forget to take the penny out once you get your medication.

Answer 7

You can buy some treatment at PetSmart or PetCo. The treatment should be alright for the tank size so, you don't have to worry about it. You can also ask someone at the petstore if you need more help.

Answer 8

Start looking for new fishes, cause the treatments that are out there only work if the phd is perfect, and 99.9% it wont work due the fish sensitivty.

Answer 9

You should try Cooper Safe if your fish is a salt water fish . But if is not I think your treament might work . Doesen't matter the size of the tank ... I hope it helps .

Answer 10

Hi, I've learned that raising the temp to 80 or so and adding aq salt will do kill it. 1 tablespoon to the gallon. that's freshwater tanks.