My valentine puffer has ich. I bought him about 2 weeks ago so I realize the stress may have caused it. My question is, nothing I have ever used in the past that was safe for a reef tank was ever really effective. You know the garlic cure ect... Is there anythink that has come out that reallly workes and is safe????
Another Case of Ich
- Thread starter bioscot
- Start date
No new ich fighting treatment I know of has recently been introduced. The latest trend I've seen is chopping up ginger bits and feeding them to the fish, although I'm not sure why or how this works. The best cure for ich, as you've probably found out, is simply to reduce the stress levels for your fish by housing it in a suitable, stable environment. My fish rarely come down with ich and they always heal on their own.
Hey, what about pushing proper quarantine procedures for folks who don't know, eh?
This can be avoided, or at least much more easily treated if you follow quarantine procedures--30 days in a bare tank, keeping up with water changes, and preceded with a freshwater dip w/methylene blue (it really can do wonders). I don't like to suggest copper for puffers and related fishes, but for most scaled fish it can be used prophylactically, or even better to use is hyposalinity. (1.010)
If you do this in the future, you'll avoid a LOT of problems.
This can be avoided, or at least much more easily treated if you follow quarantine procedures--30 days in a bare tank, keeping up with water changes, and preceded with a freshwater dip w/methylene blue (it really can do wonders). I don't like to suggest copper for puffers and related fishes, but for most scaled fish it can be used prophylactically, or even better to use is hyposalinity. (1.010)
If you do this in the future, you'll avoid a LOT of problems.
Len, I can't believe you actually brought up the whole ginger thing! I might just have to come over there and slap you. Please email your address to me so can do this ASAP! WHAP!! :twisted: 
Really now, I was playing The Eagles last time I saw ich go away, so that must be what cured it! Maybe someone should try Vanilla Coke, that might work too. 8O
As far as quarantine goes, as Seamaiden so diplomatically said - it will save you a ton of problems. You wouldn't be here asking about this, and getting told to use ginger (sorry Len ) if you would have just taken this simple step. ESPECIALLY with a puffer!
Live and learn I guess. Good luck! BTW, you can go as low as 1.009 for your hyposalinity treatment.
Cheers
Jim
Really now, I was playing The Eagles last time I saw ich go away, so that must be what cured it! Maybe someone should try Vanilla Coke, that might work too. 8O
As far as quarantine goes, as Seamaiden so diplomatically said - it will save you a ton of problems. You wouldn't be here asking about this, and getting told to use ginger (sorry Len
) if you would have just taken this simple step. ESPECIALLY with a puffer!Live and learn I guess. Good luck! BTW, you can go as low as 1.009 for your hyposalinity treatment.
Cheers
Jim
thanks for all the suggestions. I know you all disagree but I believe the quarentene is to extreme a step to have to go through. Over the last 3 or 4 years this has only happended a few times so it has all worked out o.k.
I'm going to stick with Len and asume that he will work his way through it. Thanks again all!!!!
scott
I'm going to stick with Len and asume that he will work his way through it. Thanks again all!!!!
scott
There is nothing extreme about quarantine. Try tearing an entire tank down so that you can treat each fish with hyposalinity because you made a reckless mistake by NOT quarantining. THAT is extreme.
"Assuming" he will work his way through it is a naive, and ill advised approach, but hey, it's your tank. Furthermore, Len didn't tell you to assume anything. I suggest you take some action. Nuff said.
Best of luck
Jim
"Assuming" he will work his way through it is a naive, and ill advised approach, but hey, it's your tank. Furthermore, Len didn't tell you to assume anything. I suggest you take some action. Nuff said.
Best of luck
Jim
I would also like to point out that if q/t were so extreme, then why would public aquariums utilize it RELIGIOUSLY???
seawiz, while you're sorting out the why's, at least you're buying your fish time by having them in q/t. I suggest dropping the salinity down to 1.010 during the q/t, keep it there for two weeks, at least. Drop the salinity slowly, too (with fish that don't swing both ways it's safer to do it over a couple of days instead of several hours). Then, it's my opinion that water quality issues must be seriously addressed. Whoever's doing the maintenance for you should be able to get a handle on it, and if they can't, then I suggest looking elsewhere.
seawiz, while you're sorting out the why's, at least you're buying your fish time by having them in q/t. I suggest dropping the salinity down to 1.010 during the q/t, keep it there for two weeks, at least. Drop the salinity slowly, too (with fish that don't swing both ways it's safer to do it over a couple of days instead of several hours). Then, it's my opinion that water quality issues must be seriously addressed. Whoever's doing the maintenance for you should be able to get a handle on it, and if they can't, then I suggest looking elsewhere.
Thanks. I waited for about 5-6 weeks before I added the fish after the last ich attack. I tested every 4 days and even took down to my LFS and Maint. man. Everything was perfect on the test. Thats why I decided to start again slowly with wish.I am already dropping the salinty down a little each day.The 3 fish are already in the Qaurn.tank so time will tell.Thankjs again. very little bit helps.I have had FO for about 10 years and this is only the 3rd time with ich.Twice in 3 months.
Nothing agianst you Seawiz. :wink: It's just that Terry and I seem to converge on these threads all the time, on both boards it seems.
There's a lot of bad information and old wives tales regarding certain issues that drives me crazy. Nothing to do with your post.
Good luck.
Jim
There's a lot of bad information and old wives tales regarding certain issues that drives me crazy. Nothing to do with your post.
Good luck.
Jim
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