Ugg Ich !

[kid creole]

Originally Posted by NJAquaBarren

Thanks for the inputs. Seems there are several treatments that work. And all have some drawback. I'll be adding UV and will give more thought to choosing a med, salt, heat or combo technique.

Here's a thought. With UV added to restrain spread and the outbreak still small, it might be a good time to try the heat method and see what happens. If the outbreak worsens, then move to meds quickly.

What do you think? Sound reasonable, or should I just get it over with and dose the things? Other than this the tank (6 weeks old now) has been doing great.

AB

With fish disease it is more important to act quickly than to be most correct.

Anyhoo, I don't think you should be considering salt. I have heard tetras aren't supposed to like salt. if I'm wrong, hopefully someone will correct me.

I don't know of any species in your tank that can't tolerate 86° water.

[plaakapong]

This is my favorite article on the subject.
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/ich.shtml

I disagree with the premise that ich is present in all aquariums. It cannot just hang around, it needs a host(fish). It can however be present on a fish and not be visibly detectable.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by Solid

Right, ich along with a lot of other diseases is always in your tank/fish waiting for your fishes immune system to be weak enough for them to take advantage.

"Many experts believe that ich is present in all aquariums, but only attack weakened or stressed fish. Healthy fish have a strong immune system and are able to resist ich. Stressed fish have a weakened immune system and are therefore susceptible to the ich organisms that are already present in the tank."
-http://www.petcarejournal.com/ich-in-fish.html

"Completely eradicating Ich from your aquarium is not easy, and studies show that small amounts of Ich tend to be present even in well maintained aquariums where the fish are in prime condition. Just like the immune system of a healthy person can handle a few germs in the air, healthy fish seem to be able to live with Ich around them without falling ill. If we on the other hand crammed that healthy person into a subway and forced him to stand in a crowded wagon filled with sneezing persons, it might soon be too much for his immune system to handle and he would catch a cold. The same thing is true for fishes – if you place them in a crowded environment, rarely perform any water changes and introduce a bunch of diseased specimens, you may very well have an Ich outbreak on your hands. "
-http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/disease/ich.php

You're both right.

Ich is a living organism, a parasite, so is not necessarily in all aquariums. It has to be introduced. But chances are good that once it's gotten into a tank, unless measures are taken to actively kill all the organisms, at least a few parasites will survive to keep the population alive, even if the infestation is not visible.

I've learned from experience that temperature changes are a huge trigger for ich infestations. I've also learned that any stressed or weakened fish (from whatever reason- acclimation, other disease, poor water parameters, etc) are a great host to get an infestation going in a tank.

I personally treat all new fish as if they're carrying ich, because I've learned that chances are excellent that they ARE, even if no parasites are visible for months or even years.

You can certainly treat planted tanks, and tetras, with salt. You just need to be careful with your dosages. I've used 1/2 teaspoon per gallon and treat for at least 2 weeks, along with raising the temps into the mid 80's. A few more sensitive or struggling plants may not make it, but IME it's pretty effective. (And many plants suffer just due to increased temps, alone... IMO it's worth it to make sure to get rid of the nasty stuff- I HATE ich!)

[shane3fan]

Could I have brought in Ich on some plants that I purchased? I know I brought in a snail, but could I have gotten Ich from the plants? I put some new plants in last Thursday and have had a recent round of dying Neon Tetras.

[lauraleellbp]

It is a possibility, as ich do have a cyst stage.

I think it's more likely that there were some ich parasites brought in with your fish, just there was not a full-blown infestation until recently.

Any chance that the temp in your tank may have fluctuated? That's a big trigger IME. Sometimes when the household ambient temperatures drop suddenly, heaters have to be turned up, or just aren't quick enough to compensate without a temp drop inside the tank. It can happen overnight too, so might never even be aware of it if the house's ambient temps are back up to "normal" by the following day.

[AubLaw]

I use Kordon's Herbal Ich Attach.
" * 100% Organic Herbals Based On Naphthoquinones For Fresh and Saltwater Aquarium and Pond Conditions
* Helps Prevent And Treat Single-Celled External Fish Diseases Caused By White Spot Disease (Ich), Other Protozoans, Dinoflagellates, and Fungus
* Equally Effective In Fresh And Salt Water
* Does Not Require Water Changes Between Treatments
* Safe For Use With Aquatic Invertebrates (Snails, Shrimp, Crabs, Coral, Anemones, etc.)
* Made in U.S.A."
http://www.novalek.com/kordon/ich_attack/index.htm

[RianS]

I second anyone that has said to go with a temp raise and easy on salt since you have sensitive fish and to stay away from medicine.

[NJAquaBarren]

Follow-up. I wound up raising the temp to 82 degrees to accelerate the parasite's lifecycle and used Ick Attack. It was recommended by our one, quality LFS so I gave it a try.

No more ich. Nothing harmed, filter fine, would recommend for minor infections. Can't vouch for it on a major infection and hope I never have to.