GT is sick, or I have an overactive imagination. Please let me know which one!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The ick parasite goes through different stages and from what I understand can last for weeks. The parasite itself can be brought in by decorations or other fish
 
It also is brought out by sudden changes in temp and poor water conditions. When you do your water changes do you match the temp? Or just fill it
 
We match temp... we have a long hose that we run from our bathroom sink to every tank in the house on water change day. We make sure there's hot water in the hot water heater so we can match temp, and just move it from tank to tank and fill. We use the pond Prime because it comes in a big bottle from Drs. Foster and Smith.

The only thing new in the tank is the driftwood and plants. The driftwood, instead of being dry on a shelf, was sitting in a big pond at the front of the store. I guess it could have had the parasite on it. Same for the plants. Right? I don't know LOL.

Definitely no other fish. Frank is a lone wolf.
 
justonemoretank;3610011; said:
We match temp... we have a long hose that we run from our bathroom sink to every tank in the house on water change day. We make sure there's hot water in the hot water heater so we can match temp, and just move it from tank to tank and fill. We use the pond Prime because it comes in a big bottle from Drs. Foster and Smith.

The only thing new in the tank is the driftwood and plants. The driftwood, instead of being dry on a shelf, was sitting in a big pond at the front of the store. I guess it could have had the parasite on it. Same for the plants. Right? I don't know LOL.

Definitely no other fish. Frank is a lone wolf.

theres your answer. thats ick alright. increase temp to 80 and add salt (you can find the amount online, i think its around 1tbs per gallon)
 
the increased temp accelerates the life cycle of the parasite and in its free swimming stage is killed by the salt
 
The sticky says:

Increase the temperature to at least 84-86 degrees as much as the fish can tolerate. Add aquarium or table salt (dissolved in water) at a ratio of 2 teaspoons of salt per gallon of water in your tank. While waiting, it does not hurt to add a powerhead or airstone to increase the oxygen level. Over the first couple days, your fish will appear worse and will eventually recover as the treatment progresses. In most cases, ich will disappear on the sixth day. However, there is still a probability that some cysts have not yet ruptured so it is advisable to keep the treatment up for full ten days.

I am going to do this tomorrow. However, there is still the problem with the poo...
 
Also, I already add one teaspoon of marine salt, one teaspoon of baking soda, and one tablespoon of Epsom salt per 20 gallons in order to maintain KH and pH. So, there's already some salt in the water -- not much, but some. I'm guessing the ich is used to it, though, so I should add the full amount of the salt for treatment?
 
i always do around half of what the recommended dosage is for comfort. i would also add the salt and increase temp slowly so you do not shock frank. his poo is probably stringy because he is stressed. infact im almost positive when i treated my oscars for ick it was the same. i wasn't careful enough about keeping my water the same temp and gave them ick one day with a big WC
 
Oh, definitely, a gradual temperature raise is the best for him.

As for the salt, I'll probably add that gradually as well, at least half one day, and half the next.

Is Kosher salt okay? It's what we have in the kitchen, and I know it doesn't have any other additives. It looks like I'll be adding three cups.
 
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