Treating a Spiny Box Puffer for Ich using hyposalinity

[SoonerFan732]

I have been treating a Spiny Box Puffer for ich the last week and a half in a QT. I am using the hyposalinity method (this is the tenth day). I have SG at 1.009. For the first few days the ich seemed to almost completely clear up. Then a couple of days ago it got much worse. I lowered the SG from 1.011 to 1.009 yesterday and it looked better. Today it is starting to look worse again and he isn't taking food.

Is this normal for the hyposalinity method? Is there something else I can do?

 

[cristhiam]

are you using a refractometer?
I'm using a refractometer my deep six hyrdrometer was way off. I'm treating a cowfish and a clown for ich, I'm on the 3rd week and I have not seen ich came back keep it steady at 1.009 and check your ph often. I'm having problems keeping the ph high. Don't forget to do water changes too. I do 5G every day.

 

[Freed]

As long as you keep the salinity at 1.009 the ich will die in time. You may see the ich come and go a few times and then after the very last time you see it you must continue hypo for at least another 4-6 weeks.

 

[SoonerFan732]

Yes, I am using a refractometer.

Thanks for the help!

 

[kevin2000]

Remember how the ich cycle works .. and remember that hypo doesn't kill the ich on the fish or in the water column .. just prevents ich from hatching.

Ich stay on the fish for up to a week and then fall off to create more ich - which hatch anywhere from 3 days to a month later. Now that your salinity level is low enough chances are good that any ich on the fish will fall off shortly and you won't see any reinfection.

Here's a link which discusses ich and has a good diagram of the ich cycle
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/marineich.html

Hope this helps.