I'm pretty sure my fish are all dying from ich and I feel like a terrible pet owner. The cleaner shrimp was working well on the hippo and I even added a cleaner wrasse. Just as the fish were getting comfortable with the wrasse's "grooming", it died. But the ich had decreased on the hippo and no sign of it on the other fish. In the last three days, my fish have become covered in it - I guess, from my research, that it bedded down in the substrate and began a new cycle with a vengeance. I lost my clarke clown today. The hippo, angel, and yellow tang are showing the same severe signs. Other than the cleaner shrimp, there seemed no other safe way to treat the ich without separating my fish & inverts, and I don't have a QT. This has been a heartbreaking mess. If it weren't for the inverts - I'd throw in the towel... but I guess I'll just do what I can to keep them alive until I can get a quarantine tank set up. Without fish in my tank, how long will it take for the ich to completely die out? Should I put live rock in a QT or will it be affected by different treatments for sick fish? This is just so awful. Hippo and Angel died during the night.
I think it's called Ick Kick (someone please verify). It comes in a large jug type container. Your fish may be to far gone now but it wouldn't hurt to try it. It's a;so reef safe. Better check for invert's tho, not sure about that.
Don't medicate in the display. You should be able to pickup a rubber tub for and air pump under $20 to use as a hospital tank. Several club members have extra tanks too that I'm sure you could borrow.
Marti is right it is made by Ruby Reef and called Kick Ich reef and invert safe, some lfs carry it and some dont so you may have to look around. Also you can have more than one cleaner shrimp i do believe. fish get ich when stressed so you may need to test your water, could also come from adding new fish (the stress of going from one place, to in a bag, and then another bag to your tank at home) don't get discouraged it is very common and sometimes you just can't help it. A qt tank is very recommended for your new additions...just incase.
I'm in Conway. I have some kick ick and an extra tank you can use. I have used it in the past with good results. Give me a call and will help you with whatever you need. pm me for the info.
Whew! We're heading to Conway to take Norman up on his incredibly kind offer. Yellow Tang's worsened overnight, but symptoms are not as severe as were the fish that died, so hopefully we can catch it before it's too late. I also have a little purple fireface that doesn't seem to have any ich at all. You all are an amazingly supportive group - I can't say enough how grateful I am that I found you. Keeping our fingers crossed and saying our "aqua prayers".
After my first nerve-wracking fresh water dip treatment - yellow tang is looking good! Thank you Norman for your help! We felt like we were on a "Diego Animal Rescue Adventure" today! Going to bed much more optimistic than when we woke up this morning.
I am glad your bad luck has turned around. You just have to remember, most of us have had some kind of plight that made us throw up our hands and say "FORGET IT!" Just remember that is why we are all here... to help each other. You may have some stability issues causing your problems. I would recommend you do a full range of tests including Alkalinity and calcium (due to their tight link to pH). Also check your temp at various times (after waking up in the morning and in the late afternoon).
My yellow tang ate a little bit this morning and still looks like he's improving. Thanks for the advice, Beanhead - keeping a much closer eye on the temp and will see about getting the testing done. I have a test kit for ammonia, ph, nitrate, & nitrite. Is there somewhere I can take a water sample to be tested for the other stuff?
The closest one is going to be Pet Country I do not know if they do it there though. The only other thing that she needs to check is salinty and maybe Phosphates if it is a fish only tank. I all ways just drive a little further and go to Northside Aquatics, again i do not know if they do testing there though. There is also a nice tank to look at in the lobby of Johnson Investment (in front of century 21) and the owner of the tank is Jared he likes to show his tank.
But here is a article that says it is likely. Just can not be "confirmed" yet. http://www.reefs.org/library/article/h_cortes-jorge.html
Wow! Page 2!! Ok, so far I'm keeping an eye on the temp and planning to take a water sample to be tested as soon as possible. I've seen the garlic idea in a few places, but I'm afraid to do anything else right now. I began the "kick-ich" treatment last night and the tank seems to be tolerating it well (inverts are very active and fish are not getting worse). It's bugging the daylights out of me to have my skimmer turned off and no cartridge in my filter during the treatment - but that's 'cuz I'm a neat freak.... I must let it gooooooo! I'm just happy to still have two living fish! Next question: When should I do a water change during this treatment? I'll add more "kick-ich" on days #3 (tomorrow), #5, #7, #10 and #13. Should I change water right before adding the medicine or on a day between adding it? Also - the product reccomends repeating the treatment for persistant infections - when should I begin the second treatment? Day #15 or wait for a period of time? This may sound a little weird, but the yellow tang's mouth seems to be looking odd - kinda brown and swollen (SpongeBob does botox!) Is this a side effect of the ich or medicine, or am I just seeing things?? I really do appreciate all of your replies and advice. Thanks so much! And Knucle Head - thanks for the tip about Johnson Ivestment's tank - I'll be sure to take Tyler by there and have a look.
Since you're using the hospital tank from Norman for the fish, aren't you doing the proven ich cure with copper, hyposalinity and no fish in the display for a minimum of four weeks?
Joe, since she only has one tank and all the fish are infected, we decided to treat the tank with kick ick. This should remove the ick in the free swimming stage. I have had good results from this treatment and it is safe for inverts and corals.
It's kinda funny - before I had kids I never let my dogs eat scraps!!! I want to be a responsible pet owner, I really do - sometimes I just lose the battle of balancing that with being a responsible parent, and the biggest mistake I made was entering this hobby uninformed and unprepared. But I've learned that with this group, that's forgivable and fixable! (Thank Goodness!) I have learned my lesson about a QT and I will make that my next project without a doubt. In the meantime, kids consume my time and money, so Norman's plan was "do-able" and I'm so glad. So how about this water change business? Do it today?
