Loaches with Ich on Blue Acara/Firemouth tank - help!

[aclockworkorange]

Quinine sulfate:

USE: Resistant strains of Ich (especially on scale less fish). Protozoan, sliminess of the skin and Rams disease (whirling disease). Also good for resistant strains of Hexamita when combined with Metronidazole.
DOSAGE : 250 mg per 10 gallons of water. Once a day for 4-5 days. Do a 25% water change before each treatment.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Heres a little bit about treating ich I found just for some "back up" on my claims.

SUPER ICH
During the past few years, the bacteria, protozoa and parasites that cause aquarium fish diseases have been doing a little “genetic modification” of their own. This means that they have become variably resistant to the standard treatments used in the aquatics industry. Tetracycline, which has probably been the most-used antibiotic in the aquarium fish industry, is in some cases not as effective as it has been in the past. One of the biggest problems is that the Ich protozoan has developed a strain that is very resistant to standard treatments.

I was first introduced to the new Ich problem by my friend Brian Aukes of National Fish Pharmaceuticals. I told Brian I was ready to give up on clown loaches, as more than half the time they would come down with*Ich that I was not able to cure, and I would lose the entire tank of fish. Brian said there was a new strain of Ich, which he labeled “Far East Super Ich,” which was what he thought my problem was. The Far East Super Ich does not respond to the two commonly used treatments for Ich – QuichCure (formalin and malachite green) and copper.

Brian sold me some quinine sulfate, and he guaranteed this would solve the problem of the Ich protozoa that wouldn’t give up. It worked. Ever since I have been using quinine sulfate on clown loaches (and other loaches, and tricolor sharks), and have cut my losses to just about zero. When the clown loaches first come in, I give them one treatment of quinine sulfate. After two days, I do a partial water change and do another treatment.

For me, this is all that is needed. If you are having problems with what look like perfectly healthy fish coming from your suppliers, and breaking down with Ich within a day or two, I would bet that you have Far East Super Ich in your tank(s). Try treating with quinine sulfate.

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-blogs/fish-biz-buzz/2010/06/far-east-super-ich.aspx


Some ich strains are now heat/salt AND med resistant because everyone "knows" how to treat it and the only strains surviving are the ones resistant to these treatments... This is why penicillin isn't a very effective antibiotic anymore. You may very well have success with other treatments, but you may not. I'm just the type of person to go right to the most effective thing as fast as possible, and have actually found quinine to be a lot gentler than heat/salt (loaches dont like salt) and definitely gentler than the traditional copper or forma green meds.

I also bump up the temp a bit to speed up the ich lifecycle when treating with quinine.

Oh, and of course this means this stuff will be useless in 20 years when everyone catches on and starts using it.

 

[hamfist]

Quinine sulfate:

USE: Resistant strains of Ich (especially on scale less fish). Protozoan, sliminess of the skin and Rams disease (whirling disease). Also good for resistant strains of Hexamita when combined with Metronidazole.
DOSAGE : 250 mg per 10 gallons of water. Once a day for 4-5 days. Do a 25% water change before each treatment.

Excellent. THanks !

 

[balton777]

So before everyone goes around making claims, at least back it up with some experience/evidence.

Like I said, I'm not an ick expert. I've only had to get rid of it a couple of times since 1997 when I started in this hobby and I didn't use medication. I was told to raise my temp to 87F and give it a few days, thank goodness it worked. Could it be coincedence? Maybe. There may be better methods like the ones you mentioned but I'll continue to not medicate if I can get away with it. To the OP...GL, I hope they get well soon.

 

[cacichlids]

Thanks for all the responses

Today the tank is super active, all eating including the loaches... they aren't flashing but they still have around 5 white spots each, all very scattered. Temperature's been at 86 F for 16 hours. Still no white spots on any other fish. The Blue color from the Rid-Ich is gone and the tank is looking normal (I removed Purigen, Activated Carbon, Nitrazorb and Clearmax from the filter, only left the sponges/bioballs.)

I'll do a 25% water change and re-dose as directed.

 

[TRD_Power]

I was told that Quinine has been pulled from all shelves and is prescription only now. Was excited to try this because my tank has quite a few plants and this was supposed to not harm them at all. Any other suggestions before I do the 1tsp of salt per gallon?