Yay!! I have ich again :)

[dirtyBit]

So this time I'm planning on using hypo. I ordered a refractometer and should be here in a few days. I was able to capture all my fish except one quick (and smart) chromis. If I'm unable to get him and I don't see any spots, what are the chances he's infected? I'm planning on leaving my DT fallow for 10 weeks (If I can catch him).

Are there any fish that don't do well in hypo that anyone knows of? I have 2 Royal Grammas, 2 clowns, 1 blue tang, 1 Mandarin, 1 Goby and 1 wrass.

 

[snorvich]

So this time I'm planning on using hypo. I ordered a refractometer and should be here in a few days. I was able to capture all my fish except one quick (and smart) chromis. If I'm unable to get him and I don't see any spots, what are the chances he's infected? I'm planning on leaving my DT fallow for 10 weeks (If I can catch him).

Are there any fish that don't do well in hypo that anyone knows of? I have 2 Royal Grammas, 2 clowns, 1 blue tang, 1 Mandarin, 1 Goby and 1 wrass.

The copepods your mandarin is eating may be a problem.

 

[AquaticFins]

Hyposalinity also sometimes irritates mandarins - they can produce copious amounts of mucus and seem to suffocate. Most seem fine with it, but not all. That may be a result of procedural error or just particularly sensitive fish, I don't know which.

Keep a close eye on him; consider the tank-transfer method for him if he doesn't seem to be tolerating the hyposalinity treatment.

You should absolutely catch the chromis; even if he seems completely uninfected, ich is very good at hiding in gills. It only takes one trophont surviving in the display to make all your treatment a waste.

 

[snorvich]

Hyposalinity also sometimes irritates mandarins - they can produce copious amounts of mucus and seem to suffocate. Most seem fine with it, but not all. That may be a result of procedural error or just particularly sensitive fish, I don't know which.

Keep a close eye on him; consider the tank-transfer method for him if he doesn't seem to be tolerating the hyposalinity treatment.

You should absolutely catch the chromis; even if he seems completely uninfected, ich is very good at hiding in gills. It only takes one trophont surviving in the display to make all your treatment a waste.

Correct. Excellent advice.

 

[dirtyBit]

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye on the mandarin. I think since the tank is going to be empty for so long it's a good opportunity to beef up the pod population in the DT. I'm just not sure how I'm going to feed the mandarin in the QT. Maybe I can put him in a small tank and take a turkey baster full of pods and let him go at it once in a while.

As for the chromis... damn he's fast. I almost caught him twice yesterday. I'm not feeding him so I think he may eventually be daring enough to fall for a trap. We'll see.

 

[snorvich]

I have luck with TWO large nets in catching difficult fish.

 

[dirtyBit]

Just a few questions.

How long does hypo take to start working? It's been a few days and it seems like my tang is getting more spots not less. The poor thing is just constantly scratching on anything it can find (including using the mandarin as a scratching post). How long does it take the tomonts to die once hatched? It's not a big tank and if they don't die immediately, they could easily find a fish within a few seconds.

I'm still unable to catch the chromis. I've tried every day but as soon as he sees me with that net he quickly swims behind the rocks in the one place I can't reach him. I've not fed him in a week but I think he's taking up eating my pods. I don't want to kill him but he's holding up the show. Anyone ever try adding roofies to the tank water? I'm even considering trying to fish him out with a small hook.

 

[grouper25]

I had the same problem once and gave him live brine shrimp. he loved it so much it was hard to wien him off.

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye on the mandarin. I think since the tank is going to be empty for so long it's a good opportunity to beef up the pod population in the DT. I'm just not sure how I'm going to feed the mandarin in the QT. Maybe I can put him in a small tank and take a turkey baster full of pods and let him go at it once in a while.

As for the chromis... damn he's fast. I almost caught him twice yesterday. I'm not feeding him so I think he may eventually be daring enough to fall for a trap. We'll see.

 

[sandwi54]

Just a few questions.

How long does hypo take to start working? It's been a few days and it seems like my tang is getting more spots not less. The poor thing is just constantly scratching on anything it can find (including using the mandarin as a scratching post). How long does it take the tomonts to die once hatched? It's not a big tank and if they don't die immediately, they could easily find a fish within a few seconds.

I'm still unable to catch the chromis. I've tried every day but as soon as he sees me with that net he quickly swims behind the rocks in the one place I can't reach him. I've not fed him in a week but I think he's taking up eating my pods. I don't want to kill him but he's holding up the show. Anyone ever try adding roofies to the tank water? I'm even considering trying to fish him out with a small hook.

i love and hate small fish for this reason. these guys are just too quick to hide. i had to tear my whole tank apart to catch two dwarf angels in my tank once and it wasn't fun.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye on the mandarin. I think since the tank is going to be empty for so long it's a good opportunity to beef up the pod population in the DT. I'm just not sure how I'm going to feed the mandarin in the QT. Maybe I can put him in a small tank and take a turkey baster full of pods and let him go at it once in a while.

As for the chromis... damn he's fast. I almost caught him twice yesterday. I'm not feeding him so I think he may eventually be daring enough to fall for a trap. We'll see.

Of course, don't get the baster of pods from the DT. Answers to your question about life-span of ich forms is in this great sticky:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1992196

 

[dirtyBit]

Thanks I guess I meant to say theronts not tomonts. In any case that link only states how long theronts live under "normal" condition but not under hyposalinity. My problem is that I have a somewhat crowded QT and it shouldn't take a theront that long to find a host. I'm just not sure that hypo can work in a small system like my QT. I'm giving it one more day. If I don't see any major improvement I'm going to have to start copper...

 

[MrTuskfish]

I think I follow you: in a small tank, even under hypo, could theronts still find a fish host and continue the life cycle? I don't ever remember seeing a real answer on this; but theronts literally explode, due to the pressure differences. I doubt they could even emerge from the "mother-cyst alive". Maybe PM snorvich; he really knows the ich cycle and I haven't used hypo in many years.