Fish Addict

I just noticed today that some of the fish in my tank have ich, and so I looked up ways to cure it. Most of the websites I found said to raise the temp. I currently do not have a heater, but should be buying one soon. But when I get it, should I raise it to the temp that it says, or will that be too big of a shock? My tank currently is at 73 degrees... if it is too big of a jump, are there any other ways to slow the infection? Whoa! it sounds like im in I am Legend or something!!

COBettaCouple

Raise it to 82-84, about 1 degree per hour so it doesn't shock them. You can do partial water changes once or twice a day and use Ich-Attack to help (it's the only thing I'd use with ich).. but the water temp going up is what will really do something, so definitely get the heater asap.

Fish Addict

How long can a fish survive with Ich? I think I have noticed a black neon, and some platies with it...

susitna-flower

If you just noticed it, the fish have been struggling with it for awhile already....You will likely start loosing fish in the next couple of days if you don't start treatment. Even if you do, you may loose a couple....they can go pretty fast.

Get that heater as soon as you can.

Fish Addict

Are there any Ich Medications that you can recommend??

Shawnie

ich is like the human common cold...alot of fish are ich carriers so if the environment is ideal, they never show the signs...the fish you have need a heater...not alot here reccomend medications if something will fix it other wise...not to mention, your heater will probably be cheaper than the ich medication..or equal...goodluck

miker

Increased aeration helps along with raised temperature. Add an aerator or just lower the water level to get more spash from your filter!

platyaja

My fish have same ich problem. No matter how you try to do it right according to all advice and suggestions and instructions. somehow I feel like a failure. I did raised temp to 82, change water and do water test every other day, along with treating with med. Fish still show white spots. Why is it, anybody know?
Do fish shop use antibiotic on fish? And why can they have so many fish in one tank with no or fewer problems?

steveangela1

When I kept guppies and platies... I had an issue w/ ich from the fish store... the ich med just didn't cut it.. I lost fish that way. The best way I saw was using the aquarium salt and raising the temp w/ water changes and vaccuming the bottom of the tank frequently it got rid of the ich once and for all w/ my fish.

miker

It might take up-to 3 weeks to get completely rid of ich.

Fish Shops are always circulating water in UV Sterilizer 24/7. Hence, they don't have this problem most of the time.

Fish Addict

Today I bought a 100-watt TopFin heater a TopFin XP-60 aerator, and Rid Ich+...

for some reason though, this morning there seemed to be a lot less spots... why could that be??

Shawnie

if you have turned up the heat, it speeds the life cycle of the ich parasite...keep up the water changes and keep the temp around 82ish ..glad they are getting better !

Fish Addict

In what increment should I turn it up? My dad thinks that i should only do 1-2 degrees a day, otherwise the fish may get fried... Right now it is at 78...

Shawnie

dads right

COBettaCouple

You can raise the temp safely 1 degree per hour. The warm water and cleaning get rid of the ich.