krissy2u

i have baby mollies only a few days only and they are in a breeder net in the tank... this afternoon i noticed the fish were covered in all these white dots. the babies look clear but they are still very tiny so i may just be missing the dots. is it safe to use the ick away to clear up the tank with the fry still in the tank?

aquarist48

Hello Krissy2u and Welcome to Fish Lore!

Sorry to hear that you're dealing with ICH. If one fish in the tank is infected then the entire tank is infected and has to be treated.

What is most recommended is:
Raise the temperature in the tank to 85 or 86 degrees. Leave it there for a period of two weeks. The high temperatures interrupt the ICH life cycle and it dies off. Please note that ICH may appear worse before it gets better. Do 2 gravel vacuums each week to remove the spores that fall off the fish and into the substrate. Warmer waters require more oxygen so an additional air supply line/air stone should be added if you aren't currently using one.

I only recommend using medications to treat ICH as a last resort. I think the fry would have a better chance of surviving the increased temperature compared to using medications. (my opinion). Too, some medications can ruin your cycle so you really have to be careful here.

Best wishes!
Ken

krissy2u

how can i rasie the temp of the tank i currently have a heater that is a smart set and won't let the tank go over a 2 degree variance of 78. also i can afarid to vacum the stones because of the babies.. we keep finding more coming outta the rocks.. will it be safe to vacum if the babies are still there..

aquarist48

Hello Krissy,

If you have no options for raising the temperature of the tank and no chance of getting another heater then medications is going to be your only option. I don't have experience with ICH medications so we'll have to get some more responses as to which medications are safe to use.
I'm sure you'll get more responses.
Ken

krissy2u

i called the petsmart where i got the fish.. they said that there fish came in with ick which is how my tank became infected.. also that treating the tank with a lower does of the medications shouldn't hurt the fry, since they are in the tank too and have probably been infected with ick as well and should be treated so i am using 1 tsp of a ick away which also treats fungus and parasites.. it was the only one that said anything about fry on it... every 3 days for 9 days as well as 25%water changes and replacing the filter cartrage after the treatment. 6 fish already did not make it.. they were found dead this morning... we are hoping the rest make it... i will go and get a second adjustable heater as soon as i can... and raise the water temp and add the air pump

Tigerfishy

All I did for ICH was exactly what Ken described in his first post, temp raised for 2 weeks (also I added a half dose of aquarium salt). Just remember that because the temp cannot be lowered within the 2 weeks, any water changes must have water the same temp as the tank to replace or you might get a resurgence of ICH. It cleared it up. Even if you think it is gone, do not lower the temp until the full 2 weeks is up. Raise and lower temp slowly, i did 2 degrees a day and my 2 weeks started when I reached 86, not before.
You are very unlucky that your LFS sold them knowing they were infected. My shop does not sell if the fish are ill or infected, until they are well again