Could it be a problem?
- Thread starter Vio
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Andy Sager
Aquarium Advice Addict
It's the right size and shape to be Ick. You need to take action quickly to keep it from spreading.
Vio
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Well today no dot and no hiding fish...
I keep an eye out.
I keep an eye out.
Andy Sager
Aquarium Advice Addict
That's actually not a good thing.
The Ick parasite has 2 stages, on the fish and off the fish. On the fish, the parasite is feeding and harder to kill. Off the fish the parasite is multiplying. In the next couple of days the parasite's "tomites" will be actively looking for a new host which means that any fish in the tank is subject to infection. It's at this stage, prior to the tomites finding their host, that they are most susceptible to medications so now is the time to treat your tank with products like Fritz FixIch or Aquarium Solutions Ich - X or copper based meds like Mardel Coppersafe. There is a non medicinal method of treating ich but what it is really doing is just speeding up the life cycle to the point that the fish can become immune to reinfection through infection while the parasite can not reproduce due to the temperature so it doesn't really kill the parasite. This is a longer treatment and may result in fish deaths more than using the proper medicines. (IMO) I prefer to medicate so that the parasites are dead. Hope this helps.
Vio
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Yeah i read about their cycle. I was going to ask the pet shop if i can treat for ich just in case, even if it is not ich maybe.
What are your thoughts?
If its not ich, is the treatment bad for healthy fishes? For snails? For plants?
What are your thoughts?
If its not ich, is the treatment bad for healthy fishes? For snails? For plants?
Andy Sager
Aquarium Advice Addict
If it's not ich, nothing should happen. As for whether the treatments are plant and snail safe, that will depend on which one you use. Aquarium Solutions Ich-X says it is both snail and plant safe. API's treatment says it's safe at 1/2 dose. Another brand says safe for plants but not for snails. YOU have to read and follow the directions. Read the bottles for whether they are safe for them.
Vio
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Ok great. Thank you so much!
