Achilles Tang Ich

[MrTuskfish]

He hasn't eaten in about 2 days. I've had him now for 3 weeks. The rest of the fish I've had for years. He's from LiveAquaria, if that means anything. Ich will stay alive as long as there is absolutely any fish in the DT?

(Some confusion on my part, OP & I seem to have been on the keyboard at the same time.)

Yes, if there are only inverts and no fish; ich will die-off within 10-12 weeks. it needs a fish host to live. I'd read some of the stickies (at least the 1st few posts) about ich at the top of the disease forum. This is vital reading for any hobbyist. LA has the best fish on the planet, IMO. But any fish, from anywhere, can carry ich. Was I correct in saying this was his 2nd bout with ich? Ich, on new fish, is very easy to cure in a QT and fish also acclimate much better there. No bullies, food competitors, mayhem, etc. Please don't consider buying any more fish until you have everything needed, and it ain't much, to do a proper quarantine job. If the Achilles was in a DT and had ich; I'll bet LA would have replaced it if it died, even outside the 14 day guarantee. Assuming they were notified before the guarantee expired. LA, please correct me know if I'm off base. IMO & IME: I think LA, and all of the DFS companies, have the finest customer service anywhere, in any business.

 

[DopeCantWin]

(Some confusion on my part, OP & I seem to have been on the keyboard at the same time.)

Yes, if there are only inverts and no fish; ich will die-off within 10-12 weeks. it needs a fish host to live. I'd read some of the stickies (at least the 1st few posts) about ich at the top of the disease forum. This is vital reading for any hobbyist. LA has the best fish on the planet, IMO. But any fish, from anywhere, can carry ich. Was I correct in saying this was his 2nd bout with ich? Ich, on new fish, is very easy to cure in a QT and fish also acclimate much better there. No bullies, food competitors, mayhem, etc. Please don't consider buying any more fish until you have everything needed, and it ain't much, to do a proper quarantine job. If the Achilles was in a DT and had ich; I'll bet LA would have replaced it if it died, even outside the 14 day guarantee. Assuming they were notified before the guarantee expired. LA, please correct me know if I'm off base. IMO & IME: I think LA, and all of the DFS companies, have the finest customer service anywhere, in any business.

I contacted them about it right away, and they extended the guarantee by a week. With that extension, the guarantee ends today. I have an LFS next door and could get some medicine when it opens, assuming they have it. How fast would it help? Could I treat him in say a bucket and then put him into the quarantine? I do not want to get copper into the Quarantine tank.

 

[geaux xman]

Not sure how your rockwork is set up, but personally, I would try to corner it somehow and catch it.

I'd treat with cupramine. I did so for 2 achilles without issue.

At its current state in the DT, time is running out quick for it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I contacted them about it right away, and they extended the guarantee by a week. With that extension, the guarantee ends today. I have an LFS next door and could get some medicine when it opens, assuming they have it. How fast would it help? Could I treat him in say a bucket and then put him into the quarantine? I do not want to get copper into the Quarantine tank.

A QT should be copper-proof. No rock or substrate and PVC pieces for shelter. Copper will not contaminate a bare tank. This is a myth that won't die. Ammonia may be a problem, but get the fish in copper first. If the fish was in better health, I'd suggest tank-transfer. Don't let the LFS sell you a miracle cure. I'd use Cupramine and a SeaChem copper test kit. Any brand of copper will work, but be sure you have a comparable test kit.

 

[DopeCantWin]

A QT should be copper-proof. No rock or substrate ands PVC pieces for shelter. Copper will not contaminate a bare tank. This is a myth that won't die. Ammonia may be a problem, but get the fish in copper first.

I'm afraid to put copper in it for now, it's a sectioned off part of the sump for the DT. Once I've seen 100% that water from it can't get into the sump, then it won't be a problem. Could I use like a large container? 15 gallons or so?

 

[DopeCantWin]

http://www.youtube.com/embed/oCgHIIPP2Wo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzSIWpPl668

 

[MrTuskfish]

Yes, plastic "Brute" containers work well.

 

[Yurivd]

How? The DT still has fish. Ich may exist only in small numbers for a while; but will appear again, often in huge numbers.

Crypt can only copie it salve 10 times if it is not changed
If you do not put in new fish it can not change...

 

[DopeCantWin]

Crypt can only copie it salve 10 times if it is not changed
If you do not put in new fish it can not change...

So in theory if every fish becomes immune, it will die out?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Crypt can only copie it salve 10 times if it is not changed
If you do not put in new fish it can not change...

How could even a lab determine how many times a fish had been visited by the parasite? I know some fish can develop some immunity to some strains of ich, but have never heard this. Do you have a source?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Hi i feed my tangs garlic in with there food.

Garlic does nothing to prevent or cure ich.

 

[Yurivd]

How could even a lab determine how many times a fish had been visited by the parasite? I know some fish can develop some immunity to some strains of ich, but have never heard this. Do you have a source?

I have read it about 2 years back. I will look for the source

 

[caribfan]

How? The DT still has fish. Ich may exist only in small numbers for a while; but will appear again, often in huge numbers.

+1 for this statement.

It could come back years later if conditions deteriorated for some reason, as they often do.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I'm leaning toward hyposalinity. Get the tang out today. Then slowly catch all the other fish out. 6 weeks of Hypo, followed by 4 weeks of observation. DT will stay fishless for a total of 10 weeks.