Please help. Possible ich??

[NoWittyName]

Hi to all you knowledgeable ladies.

My cardinal tetras have got what look like tiny air bubbles on them. They seem otherwise happy and no obvious change in behaviour. My water parameters are all fine. Could this be ich? We've not added any new fish for about 4 weeks so can't understand how it can be. Could they be tiny air bubbles from brushing through plants? Want to get on top of treatment if it's needed before it spreads to other species, but having read about it, don't want to medicate if unnecessary.

How do I know for sure either way? We've been so fortunate so far, don't want it to go horribly wrong now. :(

[NoWittyName]

Pooh pooh pooh. Having gone on google image I'm pretty sure now that it's ich.

What do I do? Have read differing suggestions. Should I just ring my aquatics shop? Please help. Number one fretting about it all already (as am I!)

[EauRouge]

You can get stuff to treat ich pretty easily. Protozin is meant to be the best stuff. You need to treat the whole tank and finish the treatment even if you can't see the ich after a few days. Some people might tell you to raise the temp or add salt but try the treatment on its own first, things can go wrong when you start messing about with salt and high temperatures.

[NoWittyName]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

That is what I was getting so confused about - raise the temp, don't raise the temp, add salt, don't add salt etc etc.

What about water changes? Read somewhere I should do 50% every day!! Please say this isn't necessary? Another site said don't change too much as will send fish into shock!!

[EauRouge]

Ah, good old internet, confusing fishkeepers since the 90s The Protozin instructions will tell you what to do, during most treatments you are meant to leave the water changes so that you know the concentration of the meds.

Large water changes will only 'shock' a fish if the water you are putting in is vastly different to the water you are taking out. If you're using tap water with the same pH and hardness and bringing it up to the same temperature then I'm not sure what there would be in it to shock the fish.

[NoWittyName]

Went to local pet shop (one I go to to buy fish etc is 40 min away). They didn't have Protozin and as I was so worried about leaving it another day before I started treatment I just bought something called Interpet Anti-White Spot to get going with. I'm still going to source some Protozin so that if this doesn't work I've got it to start after this treatment.

Here's hoping.

[MamaPizza]

Oh poo! I also just discovered ich in the small tank with the neon tetras and shrimps. DH is on his way to pets at home to get the Anti-White spot treatment. Really worried now.

What on earth do I do with the shrimps? Get them out and keep them in a bowl for a while? Put them in another tank but they could possibly infest it? Keep them in and hope they survive? ARGH!!!

[NoWittyName]

:(

Hope yours gets sorted. Keep us updated. I hope this anti-white spot stuff works (as opposed to the protozin that I couldn't get hold of).

I've done the day one dose, Friday is the second dose, then wait, see and hope! (plus a good old gravel clean!)

Good luck. x

[MamaPizza]

DH asked for protozin and they said they use it in their own tanks, but don't sell it, hence we also ended up with the Interpet stuff.

After reading loads on the net, I only put half the dose as tetras and shrimps could be affected by it. Will have to wait and see. I remember reading this thread and thinking "thank God we haven't had this yet". Oh the irony...

I could kick myself, I know why we have the outbreak. We got the first tetra shoal a few weeks back from our local fish dealer (very small shop, but very good service and quality). When I went back again last week to pick up a heater I saw only three tetras left, all others were sold. I felt sorry for them for not being in a shoal, so I decided to take those three home and add them to my existing shoal. All was fine for a few days and now we have the outbreak. Must have been one of the three new ones that was too stressed and got the parasite out.

Well, here is hoping that both our tanks are cured soon. Checked other tanks they are fine. Phew!

[NoWittyName]

Interesting that they use it but don't sell it!

I used the full dose - hope my tetras are going to be okay. They seem fine at the moment (famous last words!) Second dose tomorrow...here's hoping!

x

[MamaPizza]

The spots seem to be going. Are you the same? Second dose tonight.

[NoWittyName]

Spots gone!!!! Now just need to do a big gravel hoover (although bit upset that I will undoubtedly uproot all my plants). Hopefully it shall never blight the little fishies again!

Hope second dose finishes the job for you. x

[MamaPizza]

Yay! Mine also seem to be gone, but will finish the dose. Now we have the miracle stuff in the cupboard we will hopefully never need it again.

[NoWittyName]

Here's hoping!