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Goldfish Recovering from ich

6K views 44 replies 3 participants last post by  Lupin 
#1 ·
We recently purchased 2 goldfish and they came down with ich. I researched it and it said it was very common most goldfish get ich from the stress of being introduced to a new enviroment. They're recovering nicely (they have a much bigger tank since the last time i took pictures) and they seem very happy. The bigger one, however, (a little over an inch long) isn't eating as much as the little one but he is eating again. should I be worried or just wait until the ich is completely clear?
 
#3 ·
Thank you :) I just worry lol first timer...
 
#4 ·
Did you continue 10 days of treatment right after ich disappeared? You have to. What meds were used?
 
#5 ·
ich isn't completely gone yet but I plan to I'm using QuICK cure after I read reviews it said that was the best.... it seems to be working pretty well so far the spots are slowly disapearing and I don't see anymore forming
 
#6 ·
Which med are you currently using then? Please forget the quick cure stuff. It's harsher than salt.
 
#7 ·
I don't get it? every testimonial I read said it worked great and if used properly wouldn't harm the fish? I don't know of any medicine that didn't include machalite green or formalin what else would I use to cure the ich other than salt?
 
#8 ·
I meant to say the QC is a last resort. Until then, give salt a try first. Make sure it's sodium chloride. Watch out for yellow prussiate of soda as it's toxic to fish. Dissolve salt before adding to tank. When you add, dose a teaspoon per gallon of salt to the tank. Add the second set in the next 12 hours and third set in another 12 hours to total 3 teaspoons per gallon. Your goldfish will tolerate that well enough. Lethal to ich though. When you do water changes, don't forget to redose salt per water volume changed as water changes can reduce the amount of salt in your tank.

Aquarium salt, pickling salt or rock salt works.
 
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#9 ·
salt like aquarium salt?
 
#10 ·
Yeppo. It's safer. Continue 10 days of treatment after ich disappears.

Oh and for future reference, formalin and salt do NOT mix. It's a lethal combo.
 
#11 ·
will any other kinds of salt work? Like sea salt? I can't get to a store for a few days and I'm wondering if I can use that it's 100% natural with no additives it says
 
#12 ·
As long as it is sodium chloride, yes, it will work.
 
#13 ·
I want to change up the treatment anyway because I read that ich can evolve and actually become immune to treament
 
#14 ·
can I put it in now with the Quick cure or should I wait til tomorrow?
 
#15 ·
Stick to salt. And no, you cannot combine salt and Quick Cure together.
 
#16 ·
ok I'll start doing salt and stop the quick cure tomorrow. Thanks!
 
#17 ·
from what I read it takes 3 or 4 days for the parasite to fall off the fish... will the salt shorten that time or no?
 
#19 ·
If you elevated the temp to at least 80 degrees (the highest I'd advise for goldfish), it'll speed up the lifecycle rate so it could be shorter than that. This will enable any meds to kill the parasites.
 
#18 ·
I guess I misread one of the earlier posts. You already had QC in there. I wish we had gone to salt first. Just continue the QC stuff and keep salt aside for now.
 
#20 ·
I already used it for 3 days I'm nervous about using it longer than that.... I still have to treat for when the remaining parasites fall off the fish should I still continue with quick cure?
 
#21 ·
You have to continue that. The meds cannot destroy the parasites in two stages: cyst stage and feeding stage (where they are embedded under the skin of the fish). The vulnerable stage is free swimming stage. I've always broken bottle instructions and choose to continue treatment as appropriate rather than shorten the course and risk recurring infestations.
 
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#22 ·
I'm just waiting for the last few spots to disapear it's only been 3 days so I'm assuming it's going to take a while since i have no heater and no way of heating the tank other than exchanging tank water with warm water until it's up to temperature but even then it wouldn't stay that high for long
 
#23 ·
Ahhh...So if you have time to drop by a petshop, get a heater. Eheim is best. I dunno if I'd trust Stealths considering the recent reviews. It'll help you shorten treatment course a bit as it means the ich will have to reproduce quick enough for QC to kill them.
 
#24 ·
ok i'm really freaking out... I put lights out on my tank... my goldfish seemed fine but now the bigger one is hovering in the one corner of the tank his mouth is shut he's breathing heavily and his only movements are when he floats out of position
 
#25 ·
Is the water well aerated right now?
Temperature?
Water parameters?
 
#26 ·
temperature is around 65 - 70 degrees and the filter is running with the bio filter but not the carbon the other fish seems fine it's just the one fish should I do a partial water change? I don't have a test kit on me right now
 
#27 ·
Ouch. Yeah, just do a water change. You still need to test the parameters.
 
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