Ich worsens even after medication

Hi all,

I had a small tank (10G) of neon tetras that have ich. Initially observed very small white spot on the transparent fins (initially really need to focus in order to see because it is tiny).
So I bought Eiho Ich Ex and followed the medication's instructions on bottle (shake well add 5ml per 25L, and treatment may be repeated after 3 days with a 25% water change).
However, 1.5 days later (this morning), I observed the fish start to have tiny white dots on the body as well.
It seems the ich has worsened.

Does it mean my medication is not working? (I bought it from a local fish store, east ocean aquatic trading center, which seems reputable, a large store with a lot of people and staff) Is it a natural development of ich that even after medication it will worsen first?
Should I re-dose (like adding 1-2ml additional to the tank)?
Really worried about my neons.

Please help me. Hands crossed.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.
the

Hi all,

I had a small tank (10G) of neon tetras that have ich. Initially observed very small white spot on the transparent fins (initially really need to focus in order to see because it is tiny).
So I bought Eiho Ich Ex and followed the medication's instructions on bottle (shake well add 5ml per 25L, and treatment may be repeated after 3 days with a 25% water change).
However, 1.5 days later (this morning), I observed the fish start to have tiny white dots on the body as well.
It seems the ich has worsened.

Does it mean my medication is not working? (I bought it from a local fish store, east ocean aquatic trading center, which seems reputable, a large store with a lot of people and staff) Is it a natural development of ich that even after medication it will worsen first?
Should I re-dose (like adding 1-2ml additional to the tank)?
Really worried about my neons.

Please help me. Hands crossed.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.
Most neons are eating like normal except one (strangely that one doesn't seem to have apparent white dots). I have 1 nerite snail and 1 Amano shrimp and some plants in the tank. Worried also if the redosing will harm them or the neons.

there is no active carbon either. Only a sponge filter, and last time before installation, I have opened it to check there is nothing in it. So it is not carbon absorbing medication.

 

Hi there! Medication can often times worsens a fish's condition. I'd recommend reading this fishlore article:
ICH (ICK) Life Cycle and Natural Treatment | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 153206
Although others don't seem affected, that doesn't mean that they aren't affected. I hope that article helps some

 

The only cure for ich is heat. Raise the temperature of your tank to 86 degrees and leave it there for two weeks or the last spot disappears. No ich medications work.

 

There are Ich medications that have been proven effective for decades, particularly the formulas that contain malachite green and formaldehyde or copper sulphate.

I'm not familiar with the product that you are using however it is common for the disease to appear to get worse after treatment over several days before you start to see a reduction in spots. That's due to the Ich life cycle and the way the medication (or heat) works. The medication only kills the free swimming stage not those that are already attached to the fish. Once attached they take some time become visible (what you see is the fish's immune/mucus reaction not the actual parasite). Keep treating according to the directions and you will start to see improvement in time if you’re using a reputable treatment. If it's a herbal treatment you're wasting your time.

 

You need to use the medication as directed for the time that it suggested. You can also raise the temperature of the water to 86 degrees and leave it there for 7-14 days after you see the last white spot. If your fish seem to be unstressed by the temperature, then leave it up for the full 2 weeks, otherwise, try to keep it for at least a week after the last white spot is gone and check for spots befor lowering the temp.

Like others have mentioned, it is going to get worse before it gets better. The parasites that have attached to your fish are now invincible/unkillable. You can only help the fish by killing off the invisible baby ich before they can attach to the fish too, and by raising the temp to speed up the life cycle of the parasites that have already latched on.
Ich X worked for me, good luck!

 

The problem with these medications is that they have been proven to be carcinogenic, especially Malachite Green

 

The problem with these medications is that they have been proven to be carcinogenic,

Overbreeding and mass production, too. And even worse than the meds.

Heat - works unless in several strains in Australia, South East Asia and parts of the US and Southern Europe. They have developed heat resistance.

Salt - in combination with heat a good option. BUT - not good for plants and softwater fish.

Meds:
- Methylene Blue only works in combination with formaldehyde.
- Same for Malachite Green Oxalate.
- Copper sulphate is effective but can kill scaleless fish like catfish and loaches.
- Phenyl methylium hydroxide has proven one of the least harmful meds but I've found that stuff only in european meds.

Ich-X adds methanol to formaldehyde and malachite green. That stuff is a menace. Formaldehyde causes massive oxygen depletion already, in combination all three are overkill. But people want it done within a few days.

So there are options for every situation.

 

The problem with these medications is that they have been proven to be carcinogenic, especially Malachite Green

But did you read all of the paper it was tested at an unrealistic high dosage on mice in my opinion.

Its banning for fish destined for the human foodchain is precautionary.

But I would advise getting a box of those disposable medical gloves to wear whenever you are handling chemicals. A good habit to get into.

And if its true that higher temperature will kill the ich that would be best as long as your fish will tolerate it.

I used Malachite Green when I had Ich in 1995. Haven't had it since (and neither have my fish hoho!).

In my case the ich/whitespot got worse before it got better because ich in the fish skin is not killed by the meds and continues to grow and form a white spot like a clean white round grain of salt.

 

I used paraguard and a uv light when my Cory's had it and it cleared up in just a few days.