My two clown loaches have had ick for a week now!!

[kal123456]

Hi again,

My two clownloaches are suffering from ick for about a week now. The fish aren't covered completely with white spots, but at least 7 are there. I treated the tank with Maracide (malachite green and chitosan) for 4 days, it didn't help. During the treatment I also increased the temperature to 29 degrees. Nothing is helping, I'm wondering that maybe there is some other treatment I should consider?

Thanks for helping out,
Kal123456

 

[lujor]

It takes more than 4 days. Get a good brandname ich treatment (i am not exactly familiar with what u are using now- it may be fine. Maybe someone else can comment on that) and, unless it is labeled for scaleless fish, use at half strength for 1.5-2 times as long as the label recommends. I do that, add salt, and increase the temp as you said. *Must use at half strength for scaleless fish like loaches, catfish, eels, etc.

 

[lujor]

[There are numerous threads/posts about ich on MFK. Use the search feature to find details.]
The life-cycle for ich is such that it is only visible on your fish for a fraction of its lifespan. So, if you treat for a week and the white spots go away, DO NOT stop treatment. The "white spots on the side of my fish" stage is not the susceptible stage of ich's life. In short, if you stop treatment now, it will probably come right back. Also, make sure you are removing all chemical filtration media like carbon while treating the tank. It will remove medications from the water. Good luck.

 

[Chicklette]

Yes, it takes a while, they ick will fall off the fish into the gravel. So it's important to keep treating. I find the best ick medication is rid ick+. It's fantastic. Just a tip, loaches can't handle salt. Just in case you didn't know.

 

[lujor]

Yes, it takes a while, they ick will fall off the fish into the gravel. So it's important to keep treating. I find the best ick medication is rid ick+. It's fantastic. Just a tip, loaches can't handle salt. Just in case you didn't know.

My clown loaches have handled salt fine numerous times over the years I have had them. Just don't go overboard with it.

 

[kal123456]

Thank you so much!
I will surely try salt, and I hope my clown loaches will tolerate it.
Right now I am using Maracide, again, about 1 and a half weeks passed, and the ick isn't gone yet. I hope salt helps!

Thanks again!

 

[Chromobotia]

If you haven't already done so, bump up the temp in the tank to 85F. The life cycle of ICH will speed up and will help get rid of it faster.

As stated above, make sure all carbon, if in use, has been removed as carbon will remove all meds from the water.

 

[Chicklette]

If you see them flashing or acting weird when you add the salt do a water change, I would add 1 tbs per 10 gallon not 5 gallon, half dose.

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Also, make sure any UV sterilizer is off as well. I think a lot of those medications require you to keep the tank lights off as well. It wrecks the medication. When you turn up the temp, make sure the water is very well oxygenated as warmer water cannot hold as much oxygen. G/L