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White Spot (ich)

Discussion in 'Pets & Animals' started by Supersize, Nov 16, 2023.

  1. Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    Ok so I have read everything, I get it, but I have questions.

    I had a little 30l tank that had 2 Goldfish in it (Fantail and reg), we did have a Alge Catfish in the tank, but as he got older he got aggressive, so was rehomed.

    We bought a redcap to go along with the other 2, turned out he had white spot thanks to Petbarn having an outbreak but never mentioning it, this little guy barely moved, sat in the corner of the tank.
    So we lost all the fish.

    Completely cleaned out the tanks, boiling water, left in the sun etc, went back and let Petbarn know, they replaced the fish with another, he looked a little lonely, so we went back and got 2 more, they'd only just got a fresh shipment in, so those 2 didn't even hit their tank.

    3 days ago the replacement Red Cap show minor signs of white spot, about 12 cysts on his tail, the other 2 nothing.
    I just dosed the tank with Aqua One White Spot remedy (Formaldehyde, Malachite Green Chloride), aquarium salt, removed all decorations, 99% of the substrate, carbon filter, left the single plant, did raise the temp of the take slightly, but it was already 24c.
    Been doing 50-60% water changes since it started, so 3 days now, redosing the tank each time.

    Day 3, all the cysts are gone from patient zero, neither of the other 2 have any visible cysts, all 3 happy, active and feeding fine.

    I have a second 10L tank I can move them to when they are all clear to decontaminate the main tank, I just don't know how much longer should I be doing the main tank's routine.
    First time dealing with white spot, I've had the main tank established for 2 years now, so it really sucks.

    Thanks

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    Last edited: Nov 16, 2023
  2. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    Arrggh. Feel for your situation mate :(
    The takeaway here is never buy livestock from places like petbarn, they don't have enough knowledgeable staff to cover everything they sell, so it's hit and miss in those places (more miss I'd say)

    wrt ich, the temp needs to go up to 30 if the fish can take it, the organism lives for about 48 hrs so sustained 30 and some meds will knock it out.
    Be careful with the meds, some fish are less tolerant of it.

    Next time use the second tank as a quarantine tank for a week or two before moving the new stock over.
     
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  3. ipv6ready

    ipv6ready Member

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    What Mutman said.

    using a quarantine tank is a must for new fish.
    • It doesnt even have to be a glass tank, a 40l to 60l ($20 to $30 officeworks etc) plastic tub filled 35% with water is fine.
    • I set mine up when needed in the bathroom, for ease of water change.
    • Everyday do big water changes (75% of the water) since the tank isnt cycled.
    • Have the tub propped up on three corners to create a slope to one corner. Use a hose to syphon water/poop out from this corner
    • If you already have tub, just washed it and than dry it out for what ever it was in there when finished.
    • Optional since you are already doing 75% water changes, one water chnage a day is more than enough, but if you bought a school of large cardinals or gouramis rather than adding a water pump or air stone, chnage the water morning and at night.
    But I wouldnt be buying anymore Goldfish for your tank, it looks too small for more goldies.

    Though if you own your own house, why not build a small pond.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2023
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  4. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    Other than today I have had the temp set to 28c-30c since the first signs of the ich, from what I understand the Goldfish don't like it, very much, but PB had there's at 26c so they haven't shown and signs of distress at this point, I am using a small about of Stress Coat with each water change.
    I don't leave the light on all day, they are in the lounge room so they get plenty of light normally.
    So far these little guys have been troopers, they actually seem to enjoy the empty tank better, one has been bubble surfing on the bubbler, full of energy, not bottom sitting like the last 2.

    As you see I've cleaned out everything beside a few stones, I bought all new substrate, bubbler tubing, bubbler, the decorations have been boiled in salty water and are now in the sun.
    Probably throw that potted plant too, get a new one.
    Don't know if the picture is clear enough I can't seen any spots on any of them now.

    You do what you can, I have 2 ASD boys, they fret bigtime when a fish passes, so I'm doing everything I can to save these little fellas.

    20231116_120434.jpg

    I actually have 2 20L food grade stainless steel buckets here I used for transferings "washes" to run, they'd be perfect..
    I'm looking at a 200L tank soon, just wanted to get these little guys healthy again first...
    Had no plans on buying anymore.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2023
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  5. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    Arrr, leave the stress coat off until after the full routine of the treatment. It may interfere with uptake
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2023
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  6. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    See no one can get the info right, it's use this, don't use this, bloody Google, so that's why I asked. :lol:
    You guys have been helpful...appreciate it :thumbup:
     
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  7. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    Yeah, we're all armchair experts :)

    I haven't had to deal with ich in 20 odd years but I suspect the basics haven't changed. Temp up, dose with the blue meth for 3-4 days. Bring the temp back down gently over a few days as the fish will get shock from the sudden temp drop too.

    I have clown loaches that are super weak to the ich so I haven't put anything in my tank except fresh water and top quality food since the last paki loaches were added 15 years ago. Just to paranoid on anything anymore :(

    Good luck with it , let us know how you go :thumbup:
     
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  8. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    I had Walter Whites blue meth there too, but I read that Ich-X was better, this Aqua One White Spot remedy has the exact same ingredients and wasn't has harsh on the fish as Blue.
    Ich-X is in the US, about $108 for a imported bottle.
    The fish had been in water around 24-26c since the get go, so it wasn't too dramatic for them to bring up the temp to 28-30c slowly.

    I also read the Australian Ich is immune to 30c temps, but IDK about that one..

    Would it be worth changing to blue now or just stick with what's working?
    blue.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2023
  9. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    i think they'll all be much the same active ingredients, i think its just copper sulphate or something ??
    just use what you have, dont chop and change mid treatment cycle :thumbup:
    the parasite has a tricky lifecycle (to stop that is) there's only one stage you can kill it so stay on the treatment regiment and try not to deviate too much

    you could add a bit of salt too if its persistent, but just stick to the treatment for now :thumbup:
     
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  10. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    Yeah each water change I've been using 1 tbl spoon of Aquarium salt along with the other treatment.
    I have been using the salt since day one of having these little guys, so I'm guessing that's what kept it at bay a little, I wasn't using it in the previous setup where the fish died, the white spot spread so quickly to both fish overnight.
     
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  11. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    So day 4, zero signs of ich, fish look healthy, still doing laps around the near empty tank.
    I figured one more dose today and then tomorrow move them to the 20L stainless bucket for a bit, I'm guessing overnight with no meds to see how they go, fully clean out their tank and get that started again.

    I've read to use bleach on the infected tank, but I'm not sure about that..
     
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  12. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    Have a look at the life cycle of the parasite, it's important to kill it in that one stage when it's vulnerable to the meds. Stopping too early will be worse than no treatment at all.

    What's the treatments recommended usage ?
    Definitely follow that to the letter :thumbup:

    Edit - bleach is overkill and if you don't flush it properly the ammonia in it will kill the fish super quick. Use with extreme caution
     
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  13. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    Honestly this Aqua One Whitespot remedy says 1 dose for 3 days, if not clear after 3 days dose again for another 3 days, but Ich-X said everyday with a water change, both have identical ingredients in the same amounts, so I went with the more aggressive Ich-X dose everyday with a 33-70% water change vacuuming the substrate.
    I was just lucky enough to be able to remove most of the pebbles making it easier to suck up anything at the bottom of the tank.

    Though I do think the formaldehyde makes the fish a little loopy because in the morning they are calm, once I water change and re-dose the medication they act drunk...
     
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  14. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    Fair enough then, 3 days suggests the parasites cycle is likely under 48 hours, I think that's why the temperature increase is a thing, it speeds up the parasites cycle time.

    Time to get them first back in a nice calmer environment.
    Keep an eye on the water parameters, the benefical bacteria in the filter will have most likely taken a bit hit. Some "quick start" type stuff dosed for a week wouldn't hurt at all :thumbup:
     
  15. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    I have the Quick Start, but I also have some Establish Startup bacteria as well.
    Now I haven't done this in the past, I've read adding some ammonia helps the bacteria when first starting, but due to the smaller size of the tank (29L) with only 1 plant, 3 fish pee/poop enough along with the food seem to get it going on it's own after a couple of days...
     
  16. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    i'd suggest steer well clear of adding ammonia ... that'll kill the fish very quickly. its only for bare clean fresh tanks that will be fishless for weeks ...
    no, just get them back in a happy home with aged water and daily doses of quick start bacteria :thumbup::thumbup:
     
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  17. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    I got 40L (2x20L) of water with Quick Start, bacteria and stress coat being heavily aerated now, will leave it overnight.
    Put the fish in one of the buckets as I clean out the main tank, I'm sure they'll love chasing their reflections...:lol:

    Getting white spot starts making you wonder how much were you doing wrong, tank had been fine for 2 years, had a nice natural green moss growth on the log and decorations, just one dodgy fish.
    Learnt my lesson now...
     
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  18. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    dont beat yourself up mate. these things happen to even seasoned/advanced peeps :thumbup:
     
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  19. OP
    OP
    Supersize

    Supersize Member

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    All back home.
    They were in the 20L bucket for a few hours while cleaning the tanks, boiling salted water for everything. dried out the inside of the tank with a hair dryer.
    Gave their old plant a good clean in fresh water, looks worse for wear, I plan on getting a smaller one to replace it, but that will be quarantined too.

    Little bit of bacteria bloom, but I let the water cycle for a few hours before they went back in.
    Not so hypo since the water temp was slowly lowered back down to 22-24c, at 30c they were manic :lol:
    I did completely clean the substrate, you'd swear I was panning for gold, handfuls at a time till they run clean...
    Also added a little bit of Melafix just in case there were any unseen wounds from the Ich cysts.
    I'll give a 20% water change tomorrow.

    We are looking at a 130L tank just for these guys soon, saw a Aqua One with stand on Marketplace, but didn't have a pump.
    If I bought a pump for it by then I could of bought the brand new kit for $50 more.
    You notice how small it is once you put everything back in the tank....

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    Last edited: Nov 18, 2023
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  20. MUTMAN

    MUTMAN Member

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    well done, i'm glad you've got them through that :thumbup:
    they'll soon outgrow the smaller tank so it's good your planning ahead. maybe shoutout to jonsey and see if he has anything that's suitable, but i think his gear was all much bigger ???
     
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