Hi. Im new here and have read quite a bit about ich. My guppies just started itching off of tank decorations today (I only got the guppies 3 days ago) and there are no spots as of yet so I just wanted to make sure that it is in fact ich before treating. I'm planning on doing the temp raise and an all natural treatment (if necessary). I also have a small crayfish and baby painted turtle in the tank and want to make sure the temp increase and treatment will not harm them. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I'm new to all this so im sorry if any of this sounds stupid and thanks in advance for any info! I absoloutely love my fishies and just want to keep them happy and healthy!
Guppies itching. What do i do?
- Thread starter Cait finnMcGilligan
- Start date
The flashing could be several things. I would first do a 50% water change. Then be sure to check your water parameters and may sure no ammonia or nitrite is present. If it is ich you are going to start seeing spots within a couple days of flashing but without seeing any spotting, you may have another issue. For treatment of ich I have always used heat and/or salt for the most part.
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Not quite sure how your turtle will react to salt/heat but your cray should be fine. What species of crayfish?
I live in Ontario Canada and my fiance caught her in a pond during the summer. I'll have to look up what the native ones here are called. Also, after the 50 % water change should I start upping the heat a little each day? If it isn't ich will it harm the fish to do this just in case or should I wait to see spots? I'm going to go get a test kit tomorrow and check the water after the water change. Thank you
I wouldnt raise heat until I saw white spots but look real close with bright lighting and you should see one or two spots real soon. There are other parasites that cause flashing so...Alot of the time ammonia spikes will cause flashing. With a turtle in there, I'm leaning towards ammonia. Most turtles can produce alot of waste and are very difficult to filter once they get larger.
You'll want to be careful with medications, if you were to go that route with inverts such as crays. They are sensitive to practically all meds especially copper but heat and salt are fine.
I should warn you both the cray and turtle will try to feed on your fish, your turtle should be fine for a while but your cray looks larger and may attempt to feed on the gups.
OK. I was planning on just doing heat and salt and only using meds if that didn't work. Thank you so much for letting me know! That little guys been in there a year this spring and I definitely don't want to lose her!
