ick and red tail catfish/oscars

[fetto]

Hello guys, new to the site, Have searched around a bit on google, and through here for about an hour. But couldnt find my answer exactly

I have 2 oscars and a red tail catfish. After about a month and a half of owning my oscars, 2 weeks of my red tail, my oscars have just began to develope Ick. I noticed it today (first sign) easier to tell on the tiger oscar then the albino.

My red tail is ick free so far, but 1. Can the red tail get ick. 2. Im using API super ick treatmeant. And after doing so, i realized my catfiish hangs in teh corner almost gasping for air. Ive added an extension onto my air pump with another stone for extra O2.

Do i need to worry much about the red tail with the medication? the tank was just redone about 1-2 months ago, so everythings fairly cycled and clean. I think i might of just overfed the oscars, as they are bout 3-4 inches (2 of em) and the red tail is about 2-3 inches.

Ive never had this issue before seeing as im an avid and well experienced cichlid keeper of 8+ years. Oscars and redtail are something new im trying to begin, and expand my horizon. And they are great pets.

tank size is a 40 gallon long, nitrates are at 0, nitrites are at 80ppm ( need to come down a little) water is very hard, as NJ water is hard. amonia reads 0. I set the temp up to 86 degrees.

Im also hoping that this doesnt affect my 5 live plants i have in there to, as this is the first time ive used live plants. I mainly posted this here as it was in reference to the well being of the catfish, and the treatment effects on him. Today i started day 1 treatment, will continue for 48 hours.

 

[mike b]

Im not sure if the medication you are using falls into this category but some medication is harmful to catfish it should say on the package whether or not you should use with scaleless fish and whether it will have a negative effect on your plants if it was me I would take the catfish out until you finish treating the oscars but keep a close eye on the cat to make sure it doesnt develop ich do not use salt with the cat I know this has nothing to do with your post but you should prepare yourself for some negative comments in reference to your tank size either way good luck with your fish keep us posted on how theyre doing

 

[fetto]

thanks for the fast response. Appreciate the advise. Yep..i plan on someone pointing out to me how fast they will outgrow their tank, im aware of that and not concerned and thats a road ill deal with when i get to it.

Yes it does say on the bottle that some scaleless fish maybe sensitive to this medication. The first dose i went heavy, but plan on doing smaller doses now. But ive used this before when ive had eclipse catfish back in the day, years ago, and other smaller catfish. But nothing like my pride and joy red tail. Id hate to see him perrish from this, but sadly my other other available holding tank, (20Gal) is occupied by 2 dozen convicts ive been trying to rid myself of. hes not large enough to eat them or id let him.

It also states nothing about plants, so i hope thats not an issue. More or less just worried about their health. oscars/redtails are new to me, always stuck with african cich. Id really like to have these guys for a few years, but im not sure how many keepers actually got it right the first time.

again thanks!!