Member

Posts: 15
From:Wonewoc, Wi. USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-27-2003 12:18 PM         

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one of my tropical fish has what i have heard is called "ick". it's a white substance that kind of resembles snow. the fish is in a tank with 8 other fish & it is the only one that has it. i tried a few things...i tried changing the water, i tried a medicine from the pet store, that is suppossed to rid the problem, i tried isolating the fish from the rest of them, nothing works. other than this, the fish seems healthy. it swims fine, it eats...acts normal. does anyone know how to get rid of this annoying problem. (it's right around the fishes eye & tail)

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Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 08-27-2003 10:59 PM         

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The two general causes of ick are from bacteria or rapid water temperature changes (+ or - 2 degrees F in a 24 hour period). First you need a heater to keep the temperature constant in the tank (3 to 5 watts/gallon of water). Second, If you do not have any aquarium salt in the tank, you can add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt (NON-IODIZED ice cream salt will work just as well) per 10 gallons of water. The salt will help keep down ick and bacterial infections. Third, when using ick meds, they work best with a constant 80 degree F water temperature. Fourth, the meds will work best if you remove any carbon you have in your filtration system. Last, use medications that specify ick. I'm partial to the Mardel product Maracide, and be sure to read and follow the directions that are printed on the medication. Hope this helps.

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Posts: 277
From: Indy
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 08-28-2003 06:14 AM         

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I agree with Kc5gvn, go with some salt if you don't already have some in your tank. Once you have ich (ichthyophthirios) your fish are more likly to get infections. Ich is a parasite that breaks the skin going in (that would be the white spots where they breed) then break the skin on the way out as well.
Ich is only able to be treated in the free swimming state. This is probably why you didn't think the meds were working. Any white spots on the fish are unaffected until they break back through the skin. The warmer temp. speeds up the breeding cycle in turn speeding up the treatment.
If you totally eliminate the ich now think about isolating new fish or plants. Once the ich is killed off the only way you get it back is if you put it in the tank via new fish or plants.

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James (The Grateful One)

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Member

Posts: 52
From:Farmington Hills, MI, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 08-28-2003 03:19 PM         

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Which medication did you use? I have found that medications that turn the water green can be more harmful to the fish. A good one to try (and its pretty inexpensive) is Aquarisol. Its a mild medication that is clear, so you don't have to put up with looking at a green or cloudy tank. Also, its gentle enough to treat the whole tank and not bother the healthy fish. But, as these other guys have told you, add some salt to the tank and raise the heat. It really does help.

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Member

Posts: 15
From:Wonewoc, Wi. USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-29-2003 11:28 AM         

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well, thanks to those who offered advise, the fish that had ick died yesterday, but, i will use the advise for the rest of my fish & any future fish. thank you.

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