grimlock3000
Aquarium Advice Addict
Seems like every time I get new fish, they bring some form of trouble with them. I really like all my fish and would do almost anything to save them. I have been treating my 26g tank for what looks like some possible Ich. One of the new Loaches had (and still has) a white spot that looks like it could be Ich. The fish were all doing fine for a few days in warmed water and 1/2 dose of Aquarisol along with a bit extra salt and daily water changes.
Then today, I get home from work and one of my Cherry Barbs had gone to hell. It looked fine yesterday, today it has white fin edges and is slowly plumping up like a pinecone (Dropsy). The fish is also breathing fast. Not good! Some combination of the warm tank water and medicine did not treat the Barb well.
This brought me to a touch choice. Do I keep up the Ich treatment for a few more days, or bring the tank back to "normal"? If I keep up the Ich treatment, I have little doubt the Cherry Barb would die. If I put the tank back to normal, the Cherry Barb has less of a chance to die, BUT, I put all my other fish at risk if there is Ich in the tank.
So, I pondered it for a bit, and decided to go for trying to save the Cherry Barb since it looks pretty bad. The Ich is also just a possibility. Only one fish in the tank may have it, and it is only one spot. So... I lowed the tank down to 83F, did a small water change, and put carbon in the filter to start removing the Aquarisol.
Now that I have done this, the tough part begins. I get to sit, and wait while I kick myself in the tushie for getting new fish with no QT. Also, I am sure that as soon as the Barb gets better or dies, Ich will overrun my tank even though it looks fine now. Meanwhile I need to hope that whatever the Barb has does not spread and force me to mass-medicate the tank. I can deal with one problem at a time, but this just sucks. I feel like I am going to be screwed no matter what I do
Quick version... Tank currently at 83F, no meds. One fish possibly with Ich, another fish turning into a pine cone and having its fins turn white. What would you do?
Then today, I get home from work and one of my Cherry Barbs had gone to hell. It looked fine yesterday, today it has white fin edges and is slowly plumping up like a pinecone (Dropsy). The fish is also breathing fast. Not good! Some combination of the warm tank water and medicine did not treat the Barb well.
This brought me to a touch choice. Do I keep up the Ich treatment for a few more days, or bring the tank back to "normal"? If I keep up the Ich treatment, I have little doubt the Cherry Barb would die. If I put the tank back to normal, the Cherry Barb has less of a chance to die, BUT, I put all my other fish at risk if there is Ich in the tank.
So, I pondered it for a bit, and decided to go for trying to save the Cherry Barb since it looks pretty bad. The Ich is also just a possibility. Only one fish in the tank may have it, and it is only one spot. So... I lowed the tank down to 83F, did a small water change, and put carbon in the filter to start removing the Aquarisol.
Now that I have done this, the tough part begins. I get to sit, and wait while I kick myself in the tushie for getting new fish with no QT. Also, I am sure that as soon as the Barb gets better or dies, Ich will overrun my tank even though it looks fine now. Meanwhile I need to hope that whatever the Barb has does not spread and force me to mass-medicate the tank. I can deal with one problem at a time, but this just sucks. I feel like I am going to be screwed no matter what I do
Quick version... Tank currently at 83F, no meds. One fish possibly with Ich, another fish turning into a pine cone and having its fins turn white. What would you do?
