Does this look like Ich? ...Or am I treating for the wrong thing?

[Amy P]

Hi everyone!

I kept fish for many years over a decade ago (including a goldfish that lived for 19 years!), but decided to get a tropical tank going with my young kids. We had an existing 10g kit aquarium, so decided to use that and go for small fish. I got three cardinal tetras and three neon tetras to start and they schooled together. Day one I noticed a spot on one of the cardinals, but being on its lip I didn't think much of it. ...Until the other cardinals developed spots within a day or two of that. I ran out to my local chain store and got API Super Ick Cure, but wonder if it was too late or a misdiagnosis. I have been medicating for 7 days and there has been no improvement, and now we have lost all but one of the neon tetras. Does this look like Ich? or have I been treating for the wrong thing?

I'm in Denver, CO. 10 true gallons (tank holds 12 minus decor), 78ºF water, mix of live plants and plastic/resin plants and decorations. Ph is between 7-7.5, and all of my other water parameters are low except KH is moderate and GH is fairly high due to our local tap water being high in mineral content. Not sure if I should treat for something else, add salts, or drain and sanitize with bleach and start over since we have only had fish for a few weeks. Would love any advice!

Amy

[Colu]

On 1/26/2024 at 2:09 AM, Amy P said:

Hi everyone!

I kept fish for many years over a decade ago (including a goldfish that lived for 19 years!), but decided to get a tropical tank going with my young kids. We had an existing 10g kit aquarium, so decided to use that and go for small fish. I got three cardinal tetras and three neon tetras to start and they schooled together. Day one I noticed a spot on one of the cardinals, but being on its lip I didn't think much of it. ...Until the other cardinals developed spots within a day or two of that. I ran out to my local chain store and got API Super Ick Cure, but wonder if it was too late or a misdiagnosis. I have been medicating for 7 days and there has been no improvement, and now we have lost all but one of the neon tetras. Does this look like Ich? or have I been treating for the wrong thing?

I'm in Denver, CO. 10 true gallons (tank holds 12 minus decor), 78ºF water, mix of live plants and plastic/resin plants and decorations. Ph is between 7-7.5, and all of my other water parameters are low except KH is moderate and GH is fairly high due to our local tap water being high in mineral content. Not sure if I should treat for something else, add salts, or drain and sanitize with bleach and start over since we have only had fish for a few weeks. Would love any advice!

Amy

Did you cycle the tank before adding fish what your ammonia and nitrite nitrate Are the spots raised or flat 

Edited January 26 by Colu

[Amy P]

My understanding is that cycling required something biological to get started, so after several days of running filtration, heat, water conditioner, and testing parameters, I added a small amount of very small fish (not fully grown tetras, maybe about .75"-1"). I have been testing water every few days since I know it is a young tank and easy to get out of whack, but levels have stayed constant.

Nitrate 0, Nitrite between 0-0.5, ammonia 0.

The spots are slightly raised, like grains of salt.

[Colu]

On 1/26/2024 at 3:14 AM, Amy P said:

My understanding is that cycling required something biological to get started, so after several days of running filtration, heat, water conditioner, and testing parameters, I added a small amount of very small fish (not fully grown tetras, maybe about .75"-1"). I have been testing water every few days since I know it is a young tank and easy to get out of whack, but levels have stayed constant.

Nitrate 0, Nitrite between 0-0.5, ammonia 0.

The spots are slightly raised, like grains of salt.

It can take a couple of weeks to cycle a tank As your seeing no nitrate low nitrite your tanks hasn't cycled yet the way I cycle my tanks is by adding a small amount of fish food daily you will see ammonia then nitrite once you start to see zero nitrite you will see a gradually raise in nitrates then when your seeing zero ammonia and nitrites then you can add the first fish or you can use Dr Tim's ammonia dose the tank till it fully cycled before adding fish doing a fish in cycle is stressful to fish and your more likely to lose fish or have outbreaks of disease if the spots are  raised you could be dealing epistylis that feeds off of gram negative bacteria on the slime coat of your fish and spreads more quickly at higher temperatures what I would do is Keep treating with API super ick cure and do a course of maracyn2 in food feeding a small amount twice a day for 7 days 

Edited January 26 by Colu

[Amy P]

Thank you for sharing all of this wisdom! 

[Amy P]

Colu, Just out of curiosity what is the reason for medicating through food vs water? Is it to preserve the tank's beneficial bacteria, or is it somehow more accessible to the fish? My last neon didn't seem too hungry yesterday, so considering following the package instructions and just adding the maracyn to the water. Thanks!

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

To answer for @Colu yes the idea is some meds are more effective when taken internally. However if all you are able to do is treat the water column then that's what you have to do. :-) 

[tike]

Yes this is ICH there are several medications that can be used ,also a high temperature cure(you would have to google to find it.) I use Kordon Ich attack with much success.

[Colu]

On 1/26/2024 at 5:25 PM, Amy P said:

Colu, Just out of curiosity what is the reason for medicating through food vs water? Is it to preserve the tank's beneficial bacteria, or is it somehow more accessible to the fish? My last neon didn't seem too hungry yesterday, so considering following the package instructions and just adding the maracyn to the water. Thanks!

It's more effective in food when treating epistylis you want maracyn2 I would dose the tank if he's not eating and keeping treating with super ick cure