I have read sup many opinions online and feel more confused than when I started. Last week I moved my fish from a90 gallon tank to a 100 gallon tank. My jack dempsey who I have had for almost 2 years and is about 5-6 inches just popped up with a white dots. Looks like I sifted some flour over her back. She has never had this before. None of my other fish have any of the same signs or symptoms. I have a 10" oscar, 2 small parrot fish (4" and 2") and a small shovel nose catfish and a 5" pleco. I keep reading to treat the whole tank. Since my catfish is scaleless (right? ) I know to be cautious with what I put in the tank. I have started raising the temperature slowly. It is now at about 84° and I just turned it up another degree tonight. Sounds like med free is the best first defense. But I hear mixed reports on aquarium salt. Is the salt just supposed to help with then getting oxygen? What is the chance this ick could kill my jack dempsey or spread to my other fish? Is it a fast killer? I have never had to deal with an infection like this before.
How should I treat for ick?
- Thread starter Silverfoxgirl
- Start date
Would suggest posting your water parameters. Any new fish? Something has trigggered this outbreak.
Can try meds or salt and heat. Either one should work if done with a good length in treatment.
Do a big water change and gravel cleaning. Bump up the heat to 86 degrees. Add salt to the tank at 1tsp per gallon. After 12hrs add another 1tsp per gallon. Then again after 12hrs add another 1tsp per gallon.
Gotta do this for more than 10 days and even a week after the spots disappear.
Ich treatment should be used for the whole tank. It's everywhere. Salt will help to disrupt the fluid balance in ich membranes.
Can try meds or salt and heat. Either one should work if done with a good length in treatment.
Do a big water change and gravel cleaning. Bump up the heat to 86 degrees. Add salt to the tank at 1tsp per gallon. After 12hrs add another 1tsp per gallon. Then again after 12hrs add another 1tsp per gallon.
Gotta do this for more than 10 days and even a week after the spots disappear.
Ich treatment should be used for the whole tank. It's everywhere. Salt will help to disrupt the fluid balance in ich membranes.
Hello; First I suggest a search on this forum, there have been many threads. Most suggest getting the temperature up to at least 85F. How long depends on when the last visible spots disappear. My take is around 14 days after the spots are gone. This extra time is to allow for the ich larvae to hatch out of eggs.
It is my understanding the adults (the white spots) and the eggs are not killed by the heat or by medications. It is the free swimming stage just hatched out of the eggs and before finding a host that the heat or medication will kill.
Hello; It is my take that eventually an infestation will weaken any infected fish. How quickly will depend in part on how bad the infestation is. The longer before a good treatment plan is started then the more parasites will attach to the fish.
Hello; Yes treat the whole tank. Also be aware that the parasite can be transferred to other tanks so be careful using equipment between tanks.
A couple of notes. First I suggest having air bubblers in the tank because the higher temperature will reduce the dissolved oxygen.
Many suggest doing water changes during which the substrate is vacuumed. This is supposed to physically remove some of the eggs.
You will find a number of medications. I suggest using only one thing along with the warmer water. For example only salt + heat or only a single medication + heat. Not salt + medication+ heat.
