Treating my clown for Ick for the 3rd time!

[forrealb50]

I have a pair of clowns and the larger (female) continues to get Ick. I have no other fish in the tank. The two previous times I put her in the hospital tank with copper for 3 weeks. Both times after about 24 hours she is in perfect shape with no spots. The last time I put her back in the main tank, 24 hours later she had spots again.

What is going on here? All the parameters are dead on and I even took a water sample to my LFS to have them check it. The LFS confirmed that all the parameters were perfect. Also, the other clown is not bothering her at all. They have paired very well.

What do you think I should be doing? I'm planning on keeping her in the hospital tank for 4 weeks now. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Robka]

I have a pair of clowns and the larger (female) continues to get Ick. I have no other fish in the tank. The two previous times I put her in the hospital tank with copper for 3 weeks. Both times after about 24 hours she is in perfect shape with no spots. The last time I put her back in the main tank, 24 hours later she had spots again.

What is going on here? All the parameters are dead on and I even took a water sample to my LFS to have them check it. The LFS confirmed that all the parameters were perfect. Also, the other clown is not bothering her at all. They have paired very well.

What do you think I should be doing? I'm planning on keeping her in the hospital tank for 4 weeks now. What am I doing wrong?

To be 100% certain your DT is free of Ich you should let it go fishless for 72 days. It sounds like you are using Copper to treat fish and it is reinfected because Ich has established itself in your DT.

Good luck,

Robka

 

[forrealb50]

To be 100% certain your DT is free of Ich you should let it go fishless for 72 days. It sounds like you are using Copper to treat fish and it is reinfected because Ich has established itself in your DT.

Good luck,

Robka

What if I leave the clown that never gets the ick in the DT and leave the female clown that always seems to pick it up in the hospital tank for 72 days? I would hate to put a healthy fish in a copper treatment tank for 72 days if they appear to be healthy. What do you think? I want to take care of this the correct way now so I can add a center peice fish in a few months.

 

[regina]

my ordeal with ich

my ordeal with ich

I had a terrible time with ich my tang and then my wrasse and then it almost killed my Midas blenny. I used garlic, vitamins and added a UV sterilizer. I have had no other problems since.

 

[Robka]

What if I leave the clown that never gets the ick in the DT and leave the female clown that always seems to pick it up in the hospital tank for 72 days? I would hate to put a healthy fish in a copper treatment tank for 72 days if they appear to be healthy. What do you think? I want to take care of this the correct way now so I can add a center peice fish in a few months.

Unless your DT goes fishless for 72 days you will not be able to get rid of the Ich. You can use hypo on the Ich if you do not want to expose the other fish to medication.

Good luck,

Robka

 

[forrealb50]

I had a terrible time with ich my tang and then my wrasse and then it almost killed my Midas blenny. I used garlic, vitamins and added a UV sterilizer. I have had no other problems since.

I'm doing all of the above. Looks like I'm going fishless!

 

[rkelman]

Garlic / vitamins and UV are not cures for ich. You are on the right track with the copper. I'd treat all your fish and leave the tank fallow as mentioned and be done with ich forever. (in the DT) QT every fish from now on and you'll be ok.

 

[forrealb50]

Just put the other clown in the hospital tank with copper. By my calculations 01/12/2010 I can start adding fish to the DT tank again. The wife will be happy... fish tank spending will be at all time low!

 

[forrealb50]

Unless your DT goes fishless for 72 days you will not be able to get rid of the Ich. You can use hypo on the Ich if you do not want to expose the other fish to medication.

Good luck,

Robka

Are there any other parasites or diseases that might taker longer than 72 dats to kill? If I have to wait longer I will. I want to make sure this is done correctly.

Also, I will be adding more a cleaning crew. Hermits and snails. Do I need to quarantine those guys as well being adding to the DT?

 

[Robka]

Are there any other parasites or diseases that might taker longer than 72 dats to kill? If I have to wait longer I will. I want to make sure this is done correctly.

Also, I will be adding more a cleaning crew. Hermits and snails. Do I need to quarantine those guys as well being adding to the DT?

I'm not sure about other diseases, but 72 days should be long enough. If you are adding anything (non-fish of course)that could be contaminated to the DT tank I would do it at the beginning of the 72 day fishless cycle, just to be safe

Good luck,

Robka

 

[wooden_reefer]

I have a pair of clowns and the larger (female) continues to get Ick. I have no other fish in the tank. The two previous times I put her in the hospital tank with copper for 3 weeks. Both times after about 24 hours she is in perfect shape with no spots. The last time I put her back in the main tank, 24 hours later she had spots again.

What is going on here? All the parameters are dead on and I even took a water sample to my LFS to have them check it. The LFS confirmed that all the parameters were perfect. Also, the other clown is not bothering her at all. They have paired very well.

What do you think I should be doing? I'm planning on keeping her in the hospital tank for 4 weeks now. What am I doing wrong?

Fishlessness in DT for eight weeks.

Treatment, not just observation, of fish in QT for eight weeks.

Nitrification in QT is practically necessary. Eight weeks of water change in QT is not a plan that most people can adhere to. Cycle the medium intended for QT very well in advance.

 

[forrealb50]

I'm not sure about other diseases, but 72 days should be long enough. If you are adding anything (non-fish of course)that could be contaminated to the DT tank I would do it at the beginning of the 72 day fishless cycle, just to be safe

Good luck,

Robka

What about anemones or a sea hair? Should I worry about those guys transmitting ich?

 

[Robka]

What about anemones or a sea hair? Should I worry about those guys transmitting ich?

Anything wet can carry Ich, so if you want to be 100% Ich free, I would add the Anemones or sea hair at the beginning of the 72 day fishless cycle.

 

[Robka]

Fishlessness in DT for eight weeks.

Treatment, not just observation, of fish in QT for eight weeks.

Nitrification in QT is practically necessary. Eight weeks of water change in QT is not a plan that most people can adhere to. Cycle the medium intended for QT very well in advance.

In my extensive research on the Ich subject. I read were some strains of Ich would last longer than 8 weeks without a fish host. If you are going to go eight weeks without fish you might as well go the whole 72 days to be 100% sure it is gone. I don't think a couple more weeks is a big deal compared to the reintroduction of Ich risk.

Good luck,

Rob