ick problems?

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evox53187

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2013
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tI had my tank at 88 degrees for the past two weeks have done water changes at 50 percent twice a week. I haven't seen any spots till this morning my Oscar has one spot on his fin. I was kinda mad I thought I had it cured. what else should I do. should I keep up with the temp and do more water changes. should I had meds which I don't like to do. haven't had good luck with meds. any help would be great thanks guys:confused::confused::confused:
 
I got rid of ick with a combo of water changes, high temp, lots of salt, and some meds. Usually meds aren't needed if you keep up with salt, water changes and high temp


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Temp and water changes alone are often times not enough to kill all ich, as some individuals may be resistant to higher temps (may be only 1 or 2, but that's all it takes, and their progeny will most likely also be resistant to higher temps).
Because ich has a 4 stage life cycle, and the 2 dormant stages are immune to outside influences (meds, heat, cold) you must keep up treatment until all 4 stages have occurred in every one of the parasites in the tank. This can take over a month. Salt is recommended because when young ich come out of a dormant stage, the osmotic pressure on their cell walls causes them to lyse, even when temp alone is not effective.
 
ok so just keep up with the temp and salt and still do 50 percent water changes twice a week
 
more water changes and more salt. when my 55 was hit i was doing 30 percent changes every other day. took care of it in two weeks. to this day is hasnt returned.
 
I don't know why people still use old remedy salt and high temperature when propriety ich treatment based on Malachite Green works faster and more effectively. One to two dosage following the instruction is enough to wipe out the ick pathogens, and there is no need to raise the temperature.
 
As a medication for fish, malachite green and some of the other "in use" compounds in low doses probably do not pose much of a health risk to humans.
But it is in fact carcinogenic, and remains in the system of animals (including humans) a long time.
Fish that are treated with malachite are deemed to be dangerous to eat.
Salt at 3ppt (parts per thousand) will kill ich in its vulnerable stage as effectively, and not pose the same health risk.
It's all a matter tolerance to what some people determine to be an appropriate "risk".
 
tiger15 said:
I don't know why people still use old remedy salt and high temperature when propriety ich treatment based on Malachite Green works faster and more effectively. One to two dosage following the instruction is enough to wipe out the ick pathogens, and there is no need to raise the temperature.
Click to expand...

Because salt and heat works. MG works too, but is far more toxic to the animals, biofilter and the hobbyist and it stains everything it comes in contact with including silicone. It's also sensitive to light, so treatment should be done with lights out.

I like to try the least toxic remedies first. Magnesium sulfate for ip's as well.

IMO there is no need to use meds if treatment can be successfully accomplished without. Ich is one of the easier ailments to treat if you understand the life cycle and treat accordingly, but to each his own.
 
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