Possible Ich?

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 28, 2009
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NY
I noticed today my jag has a few white spots, he isn't flashing or anything seems fine. I dont see any spot on the other fish in the tank. Should I treat for ich, raise temp, salt, meds?
 
Don't treat for ich yet. Do you have photos? It is not all the time ich-infested specimens would flash if the infestation is rather very mild.
 
Have you added any new fish, plants or snails in the pst 3-4 wks? If the tank's an established tank with nothing added for months then it's not ich.
 
Yes the jag and an ornate bichir. The ornate doesn't have any spots just the jag.
These are the best pictures I could get. There are some spots on his pectoral fins, dorsal, tail and head. Only the tail and head spots were visible in pictures.

0830092035.jpg

0830092037a.jpg
 
Looks like a rather mild ich infestation. Did you quarantine your new fish? If so, how long?

For now, I'd increase heat to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Please make sure you maximize the oxygen levels as warm temperature tends to be deplete dissolved oxygen. You will need table salt and dose it to your tank at a tablespoon per 5g. Be sure you dissolve it thoroughly and add carefully and slowly to the tank to avoid salt grains from burning your bottom dwelling fish and osmotic shock respectively.

Keep the treatment course for a period of 14 days.
 
Ok, if you just got/added them then they must've brought it with them (obviously). It does look like ich, too. By tomorrow more of the cysts will have enlarged and you'll probably see more. I'd go with salt. The conservative dosage is 1 TBS salt per 5 g water & 87 degrees for 10 days. I use 2 TBS salt per 5 gallons (some use even more) & 87 degrees for 10-14 days. You caught it real early, that's good!
 
I thought table salt was bad

Aquarium salt, Marine salt, Kosher salt, Epsom salt....all good?

I know there are tons of views on this...but I personally have always stuck with aquarium salt.
 
Freshwater Tim;3414897; said:
I thought table salt was bad
And it should be debunked since that is pure nonsense. Table salt is sodium chloride. True that additives have been added but the additives added in general will not hurt the fish nor is iodine an issue since the potassium iodide has also been added to neutralize the toxic effects of pure iodine. I've used table salt with no issues. Ask the members in Aquariacentral.com. A majority also vouch for table salt as a cheaper alternative to aquarium salt.

Aquarium salt, Marine salt, Kosher salt, Epsom salt....all good?
We're talking about sodium chloride. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. We need sodium chloride for ich, not magnesium sulfate.
 
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