Battling Ich

[Brandonsegula]

I'd stop medicating totally... it'll have no effect on the ich and will reduce appetite. What you're dosing will help any secondary infections but imo it's more important to get it eating properly. Feed a real variety, try to include blackworms and plenty of omega 3. This will strengthen the fatty layer under the skin and prevent ich from being able to burrow... omega 3 is poison to parasites like ich. Assuming the tang is still in the DT, the whole tank will be infected with ich now. So you need to decide to either remove all the fish to QT, copper treat and leave DT fallow OR to manage ich for the whole tank... in which case you need to be feeding all the fish the better diet all of the time.

That's weird you said that my tang won't eat today. He did this last week and then ate the next day so I hope that he does the same thing this time around. I'm worried because I know he's stressed and I see more white spots on him. I just hope he pulls through.

 

[jpcrash1]

It was kind of cool like the fish new that the cleaner shrimp did this.

 

[Brandonsegula]

It couldn't hurt. Some people have said that a cleaner shrimp helped remove the parasites from there fish. I don't know if it works for sure . Mine had velvet and it swam right over to shrimp when I put it in, but I think he was to far gone to be saved.

Mine will shake off of my cleaner my shrimps I have two but will occasionally let my cleaner wrasse go on him but today he's scratching a lot. He just started picking at his nori but won't eat. I know tomorrow's he's gonna look like hell from being stressed. I think I'm done with medicated food.

 

[Maritimer]

Metroplex & Focus are a terrific combination for internal parasites - but I wouldn't expect them to help you out at all with ich.

I know that Dr. G. makes a formulation with some amount of CP in it ... _maybe_ that could help.

Otherwise, as mentioned, if you've got to leave the tang in the display for whatever reason, just do your best to make sure the food, environment, and the fishes' overall health / stress levels are as good as possible . . . and pray.

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

I wouldn't bother with either medicated food. Either QT them or focus on excellent foods, water quality and low stress. The chocolate tang isn't likely to survive the long term (or medium term even), but you can probably figure out how to get most of the others how to live with it.

 

[Brandonsegula]

Thank you everyone for your help!!! I'll keep in touch. I'll focus on excellent food since I think the medicated food is bothering him.

 

[Humblefish]

Threads merged

 

[4FordFamily]

Do you think turning the lights off will calm him down if he is stressed?

Yes that can certainly help

 

[Brandonsegula]

Yes that can certainly help

He actually ate food this evening. I was shocked.

 

[Gweeds1980]

If you're doing ich management, consider adding a UV unit... Will help to keep parasites under control during free swimming stage.

 

[ngoodermuth]

If you're doing ich management, consider adding a UV unit... Will help to keep parasites under control during free swimming stage.

+1

 

[Brandonsegula]

If you're doing ich management, consider adding a UV unit... Will help to keep parasites under control during free swimming stage.

I've got one

 

[justinm]

A diatom filter can also help eradicate more parasites in the free swimming stage, if you're going to go the ich management route. Good foods, live foods, great water quality, and a stressful as can be environment.

I wish it was easier for everyone to QT, but I understand not everyone has the room or time.

 

[justinm]

A diatom filter can also help eradicate more parasites in the free swimming stage, if you're going to go the ich management route. Good foods, live foods, great water quality, and a stressful as can be environment.

I wish it was easier for everyone to QT, but I understand not everyone has the room or time.

I meant the least stressful environment [emoji23]

 

[Brandonsegula]

What good quality foods do you guys recommend? I've been feeding lrs herbivore and rods herbivore blend.

 

[Gweeds1980]

Home made all the way! Any fresh sea fish, shellfish and seaweeds (or nori sheets if you can't get fresh), leave in the heads, bones, skin and guts, blend the whole lot together with omega 3 capsules and tank water... you can freeze it in ice cube trays.

My recipe is in another thread, I'll find it and post it here for you.

Also, blackworms, fresh mussels, anything fresh with guts intact.

 

[Gweeds1980]

As promised; I've since replaced garlic with omega 3 capsules. NSW isn't vital, just water from the DT will do, or even RO.

Ingredients (All ingredients went in fresh... that's important!):
Whole prawns, in shell.
1.Whole mussels, out of shell [emoji6]
2.Whole sardines (bones and all)
3.Just the guts of various sea fish (ask your fishmonger... and then watch the amusement come across his face!)
4. Live blackworms.
5. Seaweeds collected from local beach
6. Nori sheets.
7. Fillets of various sea fish, complete with skin on.
8. Garlic (Not a natural food granted, but I had some so what the heck)
9. Caulerpa from my refuge.
10. NSW to get it to a thick liquid state ( consistency of runny honey)

 

[Mattdavid121]

Your situation here really is an issue of ich management versus eradication. Only with proper QT treatment and going fallow with your tank will it be possible for eradication . In your case, ich will unfortunately continue to thrive in your tank and your fish will always be affected to various degrees depending on different variables. So with that said and in order to manage the ich in your tank, my recommendation would be to continue to soak food with vitamins and alternate with garlic extract to help the fish be as healthy as possible to battle ich on their own. Make sure your tank provides a pristine and stress free environment as well. Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

Love this, that’s how I’ve always treated icy throughout the years. I’ve left a tank fallow for months had fish in QT’s with formalin etc. when returned incoming Ich again. What has worked for me is feeding fish food with selcon and feeding often. Keep them fat and healthy and stress free and they will beat Ich.