My flowerhorn came down with Ich after having him for 5 days. I did everything suggested and he is doing better in a sense that he isnt hiding ALL day long. Hes been out swimming the last 2 days, Ich is still there but looking better, his color is back and not so many dark stress bars but he hasnt eaten since Wednesday. Helpppp I don't want him to starve.
Fh hasnt eaten since Wednesday.
- Thread starter Sandra Heitchue
- Start date
Ok, after reading through all your posts to see the history on this situation, the thing that surprises me is that no one asked if your filtration is cycled or if your parameters are in check. Ich is usually brought on by environmental stress and the #1 stresser is ammonia/nitrite levels being detectable. Do you have a test kit? I'm assuming you're set up is new and filtration is also new. Ammonia being present in detectable amounts will cause a fish to go off feeding. If this is the case I can walk you through it. If not, we'll look at some other possibilities.
I had my water checked the day I got him and they said everything was good but that was a week and a half ago. I dont have a test kit yet, ill get one tomorrow. How would I bring those levels down if they are high?
I'd recommend getting the API freshwater master kit. Pick up some seachem prime as well. Prime will neutralize ammonia and nitrite in an emergency. LARGE waterchanges daily will get you through this. I don't typically recommend this, but you may want to pick up some seachem stability...it is supposed to help kick start your biological filtration. Not totally convinced that it speeds up the process, but in your situation I'd be willing to try. For now, do a very large waterchange...like 75%. While you do that, I'll type up a detailed post of the biological nitrogen cycle for you.
Ok, here you go...
Your fish produces waste in the form of ammonia. Also uneaten food decomposes producing ammonia. Ammonia in any detectable amount is highly toxic to your fish. Nitrifying bacteria found naturally everywhere breaks down ammonia as a food source and produces nitrite...also toxic to fish. Another type of nitifying bacteria consumes nitrite and produces nitrate...still toxic but much less so. Over time the nitrate builds up and needs to be removed manually via waterchanges.
So, the object is to house enough nitrifying bacteria to keep both ammonia and nitrite at undetectable levels. It generally takes about 3 weeks or so for this to occur in a new filter. Unfortunately your poor fish has to deal with this. So while your beneficial bacteria is getting itself established, you'll have to try to manually keep the water free of ammonia and nitrite. Large (75%) daily waterchanges and dosing with prime will keep the ammonia/nitrite low enough for your finned friend to live through it. I hope this is helpful, and don't be afraid to ask questions!
Your fish produces waste in the form of ammonia. Also uneaten food decomposes producing ammonia. Ammonia in any detectable amount is highly toxic to your fish. Nitrifying bacteria found naturally everywhere breaks down ammonia as a food source and produces nitrite...also toxic to fish. Another type of nitifying bacteria consumes nitrite and produces nitrate...still toxic but much less so. Over time the nitrate builds up and needs to be removed manually via waterchanges.
So, the object is to house enough nitrifying bacteria to keep both ammonia and nitrite at undetectable levels. It generally takes about 3 weeks or so for this to occur in a new filter. Unfortunately your poor fish has to deal with this. So while your beneficial bacteria is getting itself established, you'll have to try to manually keep the water free of ammonia and nitrite. Large (75%) daily waterchanges and dosing with prime will keep the ammonia/nitrite low enough for your finned friend to live through it. I hope this is helpful, and don't be afraid to ask questions!
The gravel should be fine. Keep it clean. Your FH looks extremely stressed, I'm sure it's directly caused by high levels of ammonia. Do that big WC asap!
Ok makes sense, my tank has been running for a little over 3 weeks. So, I can fix the water by 75% water changes every day and do I go by the dose on the bottle of prime or what should I do there? Also, I just when I was taking a picture of him he had the white stringy poop. What do I do there, I was confused reading all of those posts !