So Discouraged...thought I was doing it all right this time

[Alamogordo]

10-4, thx

 

[ryan_facc]

If the fish has ich it hasn't necessarily passed on to others that quickly, it would have to drop off and avoid the filters and attch to new host, I'd move him back to qt and keep an eye on him, why risk you tank and having to treat everything

 

[snorvich]

If the fish has ich it hasn't necessarily passed on to others that quickly, it would have to drop off and avoid the filters and attch to new host, I'd move him back to qt and keep an eye on him, why risk you tank and having to treat everything

What is your reference for that?

 

[JR8999]

Everything I've read says once you see ich symptoms the horse is out of the barn and it's too late. Btw FWIW no symptoms at all with the firefish outer than the occasional flashing. It's been almost 4 days.

 

[ca1ore]

Everything I've read says once you see ich symptoms the horse is out of the barn and it's too late.

No way to know for sure, but it's really the only practical assumption. I have had ich symptoms on a fish, removed it, and then observed the others for an extended period with no subsequent symptoms; but I have also have the opposite, with all other fish displaying spots soon after.

 

[JR8999]

I feel like I'm in limbo here. The purple firefish is still flashing once in a while but no other symptoms in 5 days. I wanted to add another fish (royal gramma) by starting the QT process but until I figure out what is happening to this little guy I don't think I should add anything.
Opinions? Comments?

 

[Spar]

I'd agree with you. No point in rushing it. Give some time for any other visible signs. Just in case you resort to moving the fish over to a QT and running the DT fallow. No point in having a new fish to add to that chaos!

 

[JR8999]

Thanks Spar. This is one of those situations where we all get to out here where we know the right answer but need to hear it from someone else too...

The last time I was in this hobby(20yrs ago) I would have messed things up already! I'd like to think that I'm older and wiser now but I do think it's this forum that keeps me in check.

 

[snorvich]

Good decision.

 

[JR8999]

I wrote here 10 days ago. I'd like to update and get further suggestions/input.

It has been almost 2 weeks since and he still flashes occasionally and there are no other signs of parasites at all. He is eating well and very active. On my original posts the general opinions were to not add any other fish and wait it out to observe to see if any other symptoms appear. I agreed that it was the right approach. I actually turned the skimmer output so that the bubbles (that are slowly subsiding) would not be going to the front of the tank where he spends most of his time. I'm not sure if that had any affect. I'm not sure how much more flashing he has been doing. Could it have been the intense amount of microbubbles? How long should I wait for visible symptoms if he still flashes occasionally? Not sure what to do here...I dont mint erroring on the side of caution but for how long?

Thanks!!

 

[GroktheCube]

IME, perfectly healthy firefish flash for no apparent reason. The first fish I added to my tank (LR had been fallow for months, fish had been QTed using TTM + prazi + month of observation) was a firefish, and it flashed regularly for no apparent reason. At one point, it even dug a pit in the sand.

Now that I actually have ich, ironically enough, the firefish hasn't been flashing at all.

 

[JR8999]

Thanks Grok! How long have you had the firefish? And when did the ich develop? I'm assuming a long time since you are not equating the ich with flashing

 

[GroktheCube]

I've had him over a year. I introduced ich to my tank about a month ago with some inverts that hadn't been QTed. The first fish to display symptoms was my magnificent foxface (ironically, they're supposed to be highly resistant to it) just about a week ago. My tang a day after him. I've seen some occasional itching from my blenny and one of my two wrasses.

 

[JR8999]

It has now been over two weeks since I first reports the firefish flashing. Still no other symptoms and he has a happy and healthy disposition. How long to I wait to introduce more livestock (a royal gramma is planned)?

Really being conservative but would like to know when it makes sense to accept he flashes once in a while and move on. I am totally willing to wait for as long as it makes sense to see if any other symptoms develop but would like to be educated on how long ich etc. to develop visual signs.
Thanks!