The Puffer Forum

hi, my f8 has developed ich in recent weeks. i have medicated with quick cure, at half the dosage (so, 5 drops a day for 10 days every other day, 5 treatments) and water changes every other day, not on medication days.... removed carbon from filter, now what - he still has spots?
happy, eating, swimming.....

See the sticky about treating ick at the top of this forum.

hello.
i did, however it does not mention brackish water fish. i keep the tank at about 80-82 - use zoe in my food, water changes.... is removing the carbon really necessary? was using the quick cure bad? what should i do from here?

What is your SG?

Ich is sensitive to salt, and higher temperatures speed up it's life cycle.

I'd increase the temp by a few degrees and bump up the SG a bit.

Then vaccuum and water change daily.

1.008, i'll up it and i upped the temp just now... so no more meds?

Meds aren't really necessary, and not always effective themselves.

Make sure to vaccuum well with each 50% water change.

k, thanks again! you're the best!

FW Ich will not survive at 1.008 at all. If it is SW white spot, that is an entirely different parasite.

It seems odd that either variety would live, let alone manifest itself at that SG.

Not sure which it is, but if it was the freshwater version, the Quick Cure should have knocked it out asap. Most use the high temp/salt method here on this website, which I agree with, but I have used Quick Cure on freshwater Ich in the past and it never failed me. I would keep up with the water changes and the heat. You already have enough salt in your water to kill freshwater Ich.

Are you using Marine Salt? Do you check your specific gravity with a hydrometer?

It also wouldn't hurt to try and do a freshwater dip in case it is the marine version. I am with lisalisa on it being odd that you would have either version of ich in that SG. Can you post a pic?

perhaps the hydrometer is off

Are we sure it's really ich and not just the puffer's spines?

Just a thought.

Eric

can we get a picture maybe susans?

they werent there when i bought him, and i dont have a digital camera, unfortunately
they look like little salt sprinkles. ya, i use marine salt, and a hydrometer.. i now have it at 1.010 and temp is 84... i am doing 50% water changes.. what else do you think it could be?

and im sorry.....what is a freshwater dip???