I REALLY need help/ideas with ich

[roark fishies]

OOOOHHH! Thought you meant the dg.
I've wondered the exact same thing. Why don't the other fish have spots? but they don't unless it's in their gills only.
I did put the dg in qt last night. My gbr has gotten worse and worse on battering a few other fish in the tank. Dg catching some of it. I decided he didn't need the stress. I added coppersafe and salt to the tank. (And I'm keeping the coppersafe going in the 46 too). I'll do research on salt and stress like you said.
I have called a local vet on another fish issue before. She seemed like an idiot. I've not checked around since.

[brian1973]

Originally Posted by roark fishies

OOOOHHH! Thought you meant the dg.
I have called a local vet on another fish issue before. She seemed like an idiot. I've not checked around since.

Thats the problem with "dispoable" pets, most people wont pay a $40 vet bill for a $4 fish. It is hard finding vets for these typs of pets but persistance may pay off. I know in he rep/amphibian world vets used to be hard to find but there was an orginization that educates and lists vets that are knowledgable in the herp field but i dont know if there is anything like that for fish. Anyhow good luck and keep us posted.

I found this link..you may be able to contact thm and they may be able to help you find a knowledgable vet.
American Veterinary Medical Association

[roark fishies]

ok did a little research:
On the aq. salt and stress- all I could find was sites saying the salt would be a stress reducer. For now, I'm gonna stick with it. If you know of a site that says differently send it my way and I'll check it out.
Also, I re-researched velvet. I'm thinking that it's a possibility as the white spots are very fine and hard to see. Like velvet. Tonight when it's dark I'll do the "flashlight test." Even if it is velvet, the treatments I've used should have worked on it.

[brian1973]

sorry roark i should have stated that a bit different..I didnt mean salt as a whole being a stressor I meant it as can the DG handle the increased salinity with it being stressed from the ongoing illness.. my understanding of the way salt works is it causes irritation which inturn cause a thicker slime coat. I guess that would be a good question for those knowledgable than me, would you want to slowly add the salt to let a sick fish climatize or just add the recommended tablespoon per 5 gallons?

[blue_ram]

I have used Kordons Ich Attack in my recent bout with ICH along with a uv sterilizer and temps to 86 for a week in my planted 40.

The two rams I quarantined (because they had the spots) and dosed with Methylene Blue (do not put in display tank) and salt and whatever temp tthe 40w incan bulb brought the tank to (probably about 82). The fish loved this treatment and it cured the red gills on my danios from their cycling a year ago. I think the meth blue is effective not only because it has anti-fungaal and mild antibacterial properties, but also because it soothes the fish allowing them the naturally fight an disease or infection. This is often overlooked in treatign fish as many treatments in themselves are stressful and harmful tot eh fish which ultimatley weakens their immune system opening them up to reinfection. Just my theory anyway, but somthign I think is worht considering.

Is it possible the spots are fungal? Maybe bacterial? Did you look into Saddleback Columnaris see this pic http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/...columnaris.jpg

[roark fishies]

brian, how do i keep misunderstanding you like that?? I get what you're saying now. Anyway, I dissolved the salt in some water first then added it slowly over a 30 min period or so.

blue ram, I looked up columnaris at your suggestion. Doesn't sound like it at all. Fungal infections are more puffy right? so I don't think that's it. If it was bacterial I figure he'd be gone by now. I really think it has to be ich or velvet.
I've read about meth.blue as a treatment but have found no product containing it. All I can find is copper, formalin, and malachite green.

[blue_ram]

Originally Posted by roark fishies

brian, how do i keep misunderstanding you like that?? I get what you're saying now. Anyway, I dissolved the salt in some water first then added it slowly over a 30 min period or so.

blue ram, I looked up columnaris at your suggestion. Doesn't sound like it at all. Fungal infections are more puffy right? so I don't think that's it. If it was bacterial I figure he'd be gone by now. I really think it has to be ich or velvet.
I've read about meth.blue as a treatment but have found no product containing it. All I can find is copper, formalin, and malachite green.

Meth blue can be found here:

Methylene Blue

and

Methylene Blue 4oz

or

Methylene Blue - Medications - Fish - PetSmart

I found it at a big als in tamarac fl but that is the only big al's retail outlet and none of the chains carry it in store.

Smaller locally owned stores might carry it in the saltwater section. A lot of the saltwater guys give their fish a bath in it when they first get their fish, suppoedly reduces the death rate by like 50%.

[brian1973]

Originally Posted by roark fishies

brian, how do i keep misunderstanding you like that?? I get what you're saying now. Anyway, I dissolved the salt in some water first then added it slowly over a 30 min period or so.

It's my fault, I have had limited internet time due to packing stuff for my move and I didnt take the time to explain it very well.

[kc0577]

I have dealt with Ich a couple times this past year. I lost 2 fish from it...Poor things, that stuff completely covered them...mY cat and Pleco. Whats worse is I just brought them home from Aquarium 2 weeks prior. I immediately changed tank water and watched it multiple X/day to make sure the others were okay. Then My Betta got it...I used Ick Away and he was fine after 2-3 days of treatment. IDK, it might be something else...

[roark fishies]

I've been roaming around the internet and i very well may have velvet. I done the flashlight test as well and I think I've been wrong on ich. Unfortunetaly (sp?), velvet sounds harder to cure. I'm gonna start a new thread on velvet.