[paintsforyou]

Sorry guys for opening a new post on this but I need help ASAP!

OK so I have been treating with Ick Gaurd by Jungle, but you have to change 25% the water every 24 hrs and add another dose...yesterday after only 3 doses (3 days) it looked like the Ick was gone so last night I added the carbon back in and this AM I could tell that they wernt quite over it yet so I took the carbon out and dosed them again (4rth dose). My delema is I have to go away this afternoon till Sunday...2 nights. I was thinking should I go and see if I can get coppersafe or another medication that you add and dont have to change for a couple of days...I dont want to stress them out with all the meds...I also heard that I should also be using an antibiotic. Any info would be greatly appreciated. They seem a bit pale in color, but are swiming around and not sitting on the bottom anymore. I increased the power head and they like swimming against the current, they are also back to begging for food! so Im thinking they are getting better. I havnt tested my levels while the medication is in the tank as I have been told that you get false readings. I hope I didnt mess with my benificial bacteria! What a state! Thank you so much for you time everyone!

 

[TheCodfather]

Hey, remember that whitespot, or ich, or ick ,or whatever has a multi-stage life cycle! just cos you can't see it doesn't necessarily mean you should stop treating or even that it has gone! Only part of it's life cycle is visible on the fish... it has freeswimming stages too.....

 

[TheCodfather]

Do you have such a thing as Protozin over there? That's a good treatment for w/spot.

 

[paintsforyou]

thanks so much Codfather...I still want to treat it but would you think it wise if i were to put back the carbon in for a few hours to get rid of the Jungle Ick Gaurd and to put coppersafe or some other medication for it that i dont have to do everyday like the ick gaurd as I have to go away today for a few days.

 

[TheCodfather]

You could do if you wanted to. You'll probably find that 99% of w/spot treatments are courses and not single doses, to kill off all the stages that we mentioned earlier. Which complicates things when you go away.... :?
There are some particularly nasty strains of spot going about at the moment which only respond to strong treatment. Going for a copper-based one would probably be wise. I'd also recommend a substantial water change as well as re-adding the carbon... fingers crossed!

 

[paintsforyou]

Thanks Codfather I will try the copper safe Thanks so much for the advice!!

 

[crazie.eddie]

You could just add salt and increase the temps. Ich cannot take a change in salinity levels, fish can. Make sure you dilute the salt in water first, then pour the salt in the tank over a long period of time. Make sure you do a good water change before you leave and you don't worry about feeding them, since fish can last without for about a week or longer, depending on the size of the fish.

 

[paintsforyou]

Thanks so much for the reply Crazie! I use Aquarium salt to treat my water along with stress coat for water changes and have increased the amount since this outbreak happened. Im leaving in 2 hours so wont beable to increase temp they already have their tank at 75-78 degrees kinda high for goldfish but they seem to perfer it. What do you think about using an antibiotic along with the copper safe? Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[crazie.eddie]

Just hope for the best. Probably keep the lights off and only have the room or ambient lighting light up the tank. This way, the fish could rest more.

 

[paintsforyou]

Hi Everyone!! Thank you for all the great adivce and help! I am back home now and the fish are all back to normal! I did a water change and added the coppersafe befor I left on Friday and had someone come in and feed them small amounts and to give me a visual check on them. When I got home on Sunday they all seemed back to normal but they had a bit of tail rot or fungus on the tips of thier tails....I added primafix and thats working for them. Thanks again!!