Fish develop ICH after months in the tank?

[rossmort]

Hi, I have a 5.5g tank w/ 1 betta, 2 corries and 1 small pleco. The tank is filtered by a AC200 so the water is definitly NOT dirty but I just noticed that there are which spots on the betta. The spots are mostly on his fins but it seems like there are a couple on his body. I just introduced a Banana plant into the tank but it came from a plant only tank. Hmmm, I am just stuck because I don't know why he would be getting something like that! Any help would be appreciated.

I have read all about getting rid of ICH but I just don't understand how it would come now! If that is what it is. I will get some pics up soon.

 

[astroguy]

Hi,

First off, that's 1 small pleco too much, especially if you have no large tank to put it when he grows.
I suggest to move it or return it. If at all, use a oto.

Now on ich: ich is always present in the tank, but most of the time, the fishes are immune to it. Stress and bad water quality/maintenance can cause them to fall prey of ich. So, I suggest that you give us your params (ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, maintenance, pH and Temp) so that we could identify a potential reason for ich.

Since you have cories and a pleco, I think that the temperature method is best. Some ich medics are not suitable for this kind of fishes.

 

[rossmort]

Yeah, i have a 125g that the pleco will go into. He is about an inch and the corries are too. I do regular water changes every 2-4 days. I forgot my test kit at home (this is in my dorm) so I can't give params right now. I also have a crappy heater in it that I can't raise the temp :-( I just tried to take some pictures but the betta is bright red and the camera just can't get him very good. I am going to try another roommates camera when he gets back.

 

[astroguy]

put him soon in the 125g, as you may stunt his development by letting him grow in the 5.5g.

 

[rossmort]

he is a some species of leopard pleco (Can't remember for sure) and he is only supposed to get to be 2-3 inches anyways--I don't think there is much wrong with keeping him. He has a big piece of driftwood that he lives in and is happy I am more concered with my beta and his white dots.

 

[astroguy]

I am not sure about this 2-3 inches limit... And it is not only an issue of size but of natural environment. Cories and plecos are not made for a 5.5g. As for being happy, the more I am in this hobby, the more I realize that nobody *knows* whether their fishes are happy. I doubt it personally.

As for the betta and white dots, I cannot help more now. Do water changes over the next 2 days, and see if it changes.

 

[rossmort]

I am not sure about this 2-3 inches limit... And it is not only an issue of size but of natural environment. Cories and plecos are not made for a 5.5g. As for being happy, the more I am in this hobby, the more I realize that nobody *knows* whether their fishes are happy. I doubt it personally.

Ok, fair enough--We all have our opinions in this hobby.

 

[Menagerie]

Hey rossmort!
Take the betta out of that tank until you are sure you know what he has!! Can you get to a LFS to get your water tested?
As for the bioload in your tank, if you are doing water changes that often and have a tank for the pleco to go into later, then you are fine. You may want to double check his expected growth at planet catfish. I knew someone that kept a common pleco in a one gal tank in the office and I don't think she had another tank .
I wrote a thread about ich and how it is often present in the tank and there are no ill effects on the fish. ( http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewt...t=0&postdays=&postorder=&highlight=ich thread ) Not everyone agreed with me, but I feel my research was solid.

 

[rossmort]

Found my pleco and they say a max length of 3.2"
http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/peckolti/179_f.php

I am going to run to walmart and grab something to put my betta in. I really don't want to buy a heater other than an ebo but I might have to "borrow" one from them. (Buy and take back). Thanks for the help. Now to try to lick the ick!

Since I know that the ICH is in the tank---Would it be a better idea to treat the whole tank w/ heat rather than QT the betta? Thanks!

 

[Allivymar]

Theres a slight possibility the ich came in with the banana plant; if it came from a lfs its quite possible ich got into that tank (is why using the same equipment for many tanks can be a prob *sigh). Its also possible there has been a low grade ich infestation in the tank all this time, but its rearing its ugly head now. Stress would be why; changes in temps play a big part. I wonder if the temps aren't as closely matched when you water change?

I'd personally treat the entire tank if you're sure its ich. Tis what I do.

 

[rossmort]

Thank you, just got a better heater and it will be going in now.

 

[rossmort]

Wow, so my walmart heater really shot up over night. I put it in and watched it for around 3 hours and the temp. raised only 1 degree. I went to sleep and got up around 5am to check it. It was now at 84!!!! Was at about 79. I tapped it down a bit hoping to stabalize it but when I got up it was exactly at 86. I know that increasing the temp that fast is NOT good but there isn't much I can do now.

Strange though because the Betta and his spots are very much already going away! He has very few left. I didn't think that it would work that fast but I guess so. I did add a little salt but I am going to do a water change in a bit for the sake of the corries. I just wanted to hit the tank quick and try to get rid of the stupid parasite.

 

[astroguy]

Keept the T up for the necessary amount of time, even if you see no spot on him.

 

[rossmort]

Yeah, I hear around 2 weeks is a good amount of time. I was just really suprised how fast I saw results. Thanks for all the help guys--Now I just have to hope that the unexpected rapid change in Temp didn't hurt the little guys as much as it did the ICH. I would have been sad had my betta been lost, the little guy has been around for a while and they really do grow on you when you start to see their personality.

 

[Allivymar]

Actually, it wasn't the temp that made the spots go away LOL although the timing was pretty darn good!

Since ich has a cycle, there reaches a point where the parasites on the body of the fish break out and fall to the bottom to encyst themselves; chances are that was the point that you raised the temp. The good part is the tank is now NOT a good environment for the parasites once they pop out of the cysts and go looking for a host; the heat should do em in Don't be surprised if you see a few more breakouts tho; generally it takes 4-5 days to really rid the tank of most of the nasty buggers.