Tropical Fish Keeping banner

Possible Ich...

2K views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  DragonFyre14 
#1 ·
Hey all,

Took a look at my fish before going to bed. One of my eldest Tetras (neon) has a single white spot on its forehead, which wasn't there earlier today. The other eldest fish (cardinal, lfs accidentally mixed one in... lol) has a couple small ones on one fin. They are acting normal.
I did buy about 12 new tetras, but this was almost a week ago. So tomorrow I can still swap out the tetras tomorrow to avoid an outbreak. They definitely havent reached freeswimming stage since these spots just shown up, so getting rid of them now might fix the problem.
I want to avoid medication, I have salt and can turn up the heat. I will do this immediately, slowly, just incase. I'll continue to monitor the other tetras and see if more pop up. I have lots of aeration.

1. Size of tank? 20Gal

2. Water parameters
a. Ammonia? 0
b. Nitrite? 0 - 0.1
c. Nitrate? 4 - 6ish (looks like its rising, due for a water change anyways)
d. pH, KH and GH? pH 7.6
e. Test kit? API

3. Temperature? usually around 75 - 78

4. FW (fresh water) or BW (brackish)? FW

5. How long the aquarium has been set up? Newly established (new tank)

6. What fish do you have? How many are in your tank? How big are they? How long have you had them? 14 neons, 3 cloudy minnows, betta, spotted cory, snail, dwarf frog. All generally young, except the two tetras that are eldest of the school, and are from the 10gal previous to this 20 - along with everything else.

7. Were the fish placed under quarantine period (minus the first batch from the point wherein the tank is ready to accommodate the inhabitants)? Just caught it, not transfer yet.

8. a. Any live plants? Fake plants? yes, 5 different types. All look to be in good health.
b. Sand, gravel, barebottom? Gravel
c. Rocks, woods, fancy decors? Any hollow decors? Coral for pH, betta cave, stone, little piece of wood.

9. a. Filtration? 30gal capable Aquaclear (two foam, one biomax)
b. Heater? Yes

10. a. Lighting schedule? What lights are used? around 10 hours or more a day
b. Any sunlight exposure? How long? in the basement, no direct exposure

11. a. Water change schedule? every so often (4 - 5 days) 20% change - includes gravel vaccum.
b. Volume of water changed? 20%
c. Well water, tap water, RO water? tap
d. Water conditioner used? API water conditioner, and a bottle of stress coat when needed
e. Frequency of gravel/sand (if any) vacuumed? above

12. Foods? flakes for fish, bloodworm treat for betta and frog, shrimp/veg pellets for bottom feeder and frog at night.
How often are they fed? once a day, with a day fast

13. a. Any abnormal signs/symptoms? acting normal, just with 1 white spot on one, and two on another.
b. Appearance of poop? Before today it looked like he was pooping just fine
c. Appearance of gills? redish look (normal for tetras, not ammonia burn)

14. a. Have you treated your fish ahead of diagnosis? No treatment, will start turning up heat and putting a little bit of salt in, slowly.

b. What meds were used? None.

Appreciate any help before end of business hours tomorrow, if not ill be looking forward to suggestions!

Thanks,

Josh
 
See less See more
#3 ·
I recently had an ich outbreak as well, and caught about as quickly as you seem to have. I immediately added some salt, slowly increasing the salinity over a few days, and slowly raised the temp to a little over 80 F. It's been a week, and the ich has disappeared from the one fish it was on and hasn't come back yet.
So I would suggest adding some aquarium salt (make sure ALL of you fish can tolerate it or move the fish who can't. (The Cory I don't believe can. Not sure about the rest). Do turn up the heat. Slowly turn it up to about 82-85 for about a week. And of course increase the amount of water changes you are doing.

On another note, I'd like to point out that cories really do much better in a group of 3 or more. Also, at a glance you're tank sounds pretty overstocked, and IMO it sounds like you arent doing enough water changes... (especially considering the amount if fish you have and the fact that you say it's a newly established tank...)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#4 ·
Done the salt and warm water, ich is gone. Fish are fine and so are the levels. When I mentioned a newly established tank, the tank had been established for a month. I have more corries now, just wanted to wait a good couple of weeks before getting more after the addition of tetras. The minnows were transferred to a 10gal so that I could add the corries.

So the tank and cycle is fine... the only problem is the bottom feeder pellet(s) I drop in at night. Everything living in this tank loves them, so a few minutes after I drop one it, theres a ball of commotion in one small spot, quite funny really.

Thanks for the reply!
 
#5 ·
I have the same problem. :) I've heard if you put them in an hour or two after you turn the lights on, the fish will most likely be kind of falling asleep so the algae eaters should be able to get to it before the others mob it. Might be worth a try.

Glad to hear everything is good and back to normal :)
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top