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Ick (Question regarding whether this is or isn't Ick)

Discussion in 'Fish Diseases & Cures' started by jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009.

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  1. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    My Black Molly has white spots over his eyes and on his fins. Almost patchy like over his eyes. He doesnt rub against the rocks but he is swimming frantically in front of the filter. The guy at the pet store said he didnt think it was ick and gave me some Erithromycin, not sure if I spelled that right, to put in the tank. The fish looked better for a few days but now has the spots again. Is this ick? None of my other fish have any spots on them. Just the black molly. Haven't had the water tested in a while so i'm not sure what the levels are. My tank is a 55 long.
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Man I can't believe you bought a fish with issues and put him/her in a tank with other fish to make them susceptible. The worker who sold you it should be fired (but that's in a perfect world).
    Ich will look like fine grains of salt and sometimes the fish will "flash" or rub itself off of things such as decor or gravel. More than likely your dealing with ich. To treat it you must now treat your entire tank (useless to quarantine now).
    First remove any/all carbon in your filtration system (carbon will remove the medicine...and you want to leave it in the water to cure your tank).

    Secondly if you haven't already done so, pick up some freshwater aquarium salt (Not the kind for saltwater systems as It's more potent) and dose accordingly-->Mollies actually do better in my experience with a bit of salt.

    Next Slowly increase your temperature to 86F (if fish suddenly appear stressed kick it down a notch)...this will prevent the ich from reproducing. Also be sure to increase aeration since higher temps will definitely decrease the amount of oxygen in your water.

    Pick yourself up a bottle of ich ridding medicine at your local fish/pet store and dose accordingly.

    Finally, during treatment you definitely want to do VERY frequent (if not daily) water changes (getting this stuff out of your water is key)...don't forget to add Prime/equivalent to your tank before refreshing with new water. Also, be sure to medicate the new water being added. There should be no need to add salt to your replacement water. If you want to keep an eye on your salt levels I'd recommend a hydrometer (plastic ones are cheap and will give you a general idea of where your at).
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
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  3. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Oops... forgot to add a ps. for Anthony.
    Ps. Anthony you may want to move this over to freshwater illnesses.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
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  4. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    I didnt buy the fish that way. I've had him for a while. I'm starting to think its ick too. Should I do a water change before or after the treatments? I try to do a 25% change once a week...
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  5. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    I'm sorry, I didn't catch that Anthony did a write up on this topic and it's treatment. Please click the link and follow his instructions/advice.

    Understanding Ich - Cure your Fish

    I apologize for the misunderstanding..I thought you bought the fish with it.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 17, 2009
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  6. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    If the white posts look like salt/sand specs on the fish it's ich. If they are white patches it's not ich.
     
    Anthony, Jan 17, 2009
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  7. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    So what would it be if they are white patches over the eyes? Like I said before, the fish swims at the top by the filter. He's got some spots on hit top fin but none of the other fish have this on them..
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  8. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Could be a fungus/bacteria if it is on they eyes. Water-changes need to be increased a bit.

    My female Angelfish gets this occasionally.
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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  9. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    They guy at Fin and Feather said the same thing. The medicine he gave me seemed to work for a while. Maybe i'll start doing 2 water changes a week. I've had fish with ich in the past and it usually spreads throughout the tank pretty quickly. This is only on one fish.
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  10. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    This IS NOT Ich.... I promise, if it is on they eye! It is a fungus or a bacterial infection.

    It only affects 1 fish probably because it is the only one that has a little bit of stress. Stress lowers the immune system on fish opening the door for fungus/bacteria and other nasties to attack the fish.

    Why just that 1 fish is stressed I am not sure, that you should know.... my Angel is sometimes stressed just from being a breeder. She has to defend and care for the eggs which does stress her and she gets this.

    Change your water a bit more, maybe add salt and you will be good. Oh and lay off of the Ich meds! That will just stress the fish more and it will do nothing for the white in they eyes!
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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  11. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    I haven't used any ich meds. I went to get some and the guy gave me the other stuff. He said if I needed more I could just come and get it. He didnt even charge me for it. I will change my water today and then again on Wednesday. I just took a picture of him. Maybe you will be able to tell from the picture...
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  12. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    That will help... yeah they guys at Fin and Feather are awesome!
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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  13. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Yeah, I go to the new one on Broad Street. The owner takes good care of me. Fish selection isnt very big yet but he orders me whatever I ask for... I'm uploading the pic now.
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  14. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?
    IMG_0319.JPG
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  15. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Not the greatest picture but the best I could get...
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  16. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    I really cant tell anything from that picture.... are the white spots on the tail part of what you are talking about? Or is it just on the eyes?
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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  17. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    He gets patchy white stuff on his eyes and some on the tail and upper fins.
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  18. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Fungus. Treat with salt and change water more often than normal. Is this that catfish? And what size tank is it in again?
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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  19. jrow8162

    jrow8162 Thread Starter Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    No, the catfish is gone now. I just have community fish now. Its a black molly. Tank is a 55 long. Ich would have spread to all of my other fish by now right?
     
    jrow8162, Jan 17, 2009
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  20. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Active Member

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    Re: Ick or not?

    Not necessarily, but its not Ich. Ich would as mentioned before look like the fish is sprinkled in salt.

    Fungus would show in patches and only a stressed fish would pick it up. I got this with my Discus and treated successfully with no moralities using salt and frequent water changes.

    If I could save Discus without loosing any, you can get that molly saved.
     
    LemonDiscus, Jan 17, 2009
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