Should Fish Be Fed More In The Course Of Heat Treatment For Ich?

From what I’ve been reading, using heat for Ich (no salt) also speeds their metabolism, does that mean they should be fed a little more during this treatment?

My Betta has it (very lightly) and I’ve raised the heat in his tank to 86F and all the white spots have fallen off of him at this point. We’re 4 days in at this point. He’s dealing with the raised heat just fine, he just seems a little hyperactive from heat. If he’s burning more energy should I feed him maybe twice a day instead of once a day?

If so should they be higher protein items like bloodworms, mysis, bug bites, or his all around fish food pellets?

I put some almond leaves in his tank as he’s just newly recovered from a fungus issue (which I’m nervous may return) and gave him food soaked in garlic juice the day before yesterday per the Ich sticky on this forum.

I’ve been doing tests on his water daily with apI test kit and and I’m going to do a 25% water change tonight try and vacuum up any Ich ‘spores’ is there anything more I can do to try and minimize his stress during this time period?

 

Bump the temp up to 88°F and do daily gravel vacs for 2 weeks. A quick swirl over the gravel is enough, you don't need to dig out the gravel. An air stone should be used with the higher temps. You don't need to feed them any more.

Ich usually attaches to the gill first so there's no such thing and being "lightly" infected with ich.

 

Bump the temp up to 88°F and do daily gravel vacs for 2 weeks. A quick swirl over the gravel is enough, you don't need to dig out the gravel. An air stone should be used with the higher temps. You don't need to feed them any more.

Ich usually attaches to the gill first so there's no such thing and being "lightly" infected with ich.

Ah, I see. Thanks. Is 88 really okay? I’ve never seen anyone else recommend going that high.
I was already nervous about pushing it to 86.

There’s air pump powered sponge filter in the tank. Is that enough, or I should I run an extra line/get another air pump for an airstone?

 

You shouldn't have to adjust your feeding for the fish unless you want them to fatten them up.

 

Ah, I see. Thanks. Is 88 really okay? I’ve never seen anyone else recommend going that high.
I was already nervous about pushing it to 86.

There’s air pump powered sponge filter in the tank. Is that enough, or I should I run an extra line/get another air pump for an airstone?

Thermometers (and heaters) have a tolerance of +/- 2°F so if you set the temp to 86°F and it's 84°F actual, you only speed up the lifecycle of ich and just kill your fish faster. Setting the temp at 88°F will ensure you are killing off the ich. Even if the thermometer reads low and the tank temp is 90°F actual, your fish will be fine for 2 weeks.

One other consideration is that there is a strain that is heat resistant and why I use meds for ich now. It's faster but it will stain your silicone/rubber parts blue. I don't mind because it's in a QT and not a main tank but not everyone has that luxury.

An air powered sponge filter should be enough for aeration in warmer water but keep an eye on your fish.

 

Thermometers (and heaters) have a tolerance of +/- 2°F so if you set the temp to 86°F and it's 84°F actual, you only speed up the lifecycle of ich and just kill your fish faster. Setting the temp at 88°F will ensure you are killing off the ich. Even if the thermometer reads low and the tank temp is 90°F actual, your fish will be fine for 2 weeks.

One other consideration is that there is a strain that is heat resistant and why I use meds for ich now. It's faster but it will stain your silicone/rubber parts blue. I don't mind because it's in a QT and not a main tank but not everyone has that luxury.

An air powered sponge filter should be enough for aeration in warmer water but keep an eye on your fish.

Thank you! I have been wondering about the accuracy of my thermometer/heater.

What medicine should be used if the heat route seems to be failing?

I do have a QT tank I can use if necessary.

 

I have a digital multimeter that has a temp probe and checked my temp gun and it was less than 1°F. I use my temp gun for most stuff and I check my tank thermometers against it (11 of them). Most are within 1°F but I have 1 that is just over 2°F.

I use API Super Ick Cure but Kordon and HikarI make good ich meds too.

If you have ich in a tank, you have to treat the tank, not the fish.

 

I have a digital multimeter that has a temp probe and checked my temp gun and it was less than 1°F. I use my temp gun for most stuff and I check my tank thermometers against it (11 of them). Most are within 1°F but I have 1 that is just over 2°F.

I use API Super Ick Cure but Kordon and HikarI make good ich meds too.

If you have ich in a tank, you have to treat the tank, not the fish.

Thank you for the help.

Yeah, I have two thermometers in tank. One digital, and one of old school ones. They both read 1-2 degrees different than each other and the heater in the tank.

I’ll adjust to 88 as close as I can get it and see if I can get an Ich med. I have one from marine land but since it doesn’t state its ingredients I’ve been hesitant to use it.

 

Marineland Ich Remedy has victoria green and nitromersol. Do you have any other livestock in your tank besides your betta? I saw a nerite snail listed in your profile. You should take the snail out and put it in a 1 g container while you treat the tank. Daily water changes for the snail and meds for the tank with the betta.

 

Marineland Ich Remedy has victoria green and nitromersol. Do you have any other livestock in your tank besides your betta? I saw a nerite snail listed in your profile. You should take the snail out and put it in a 1 g container while you treat the tank. Daily water changes for the snail and meds for the tank with the betta.

Yes just the one Nerite snail. I will remove her if meds are used.

Should the heat be maintained at 88F if medicating? Would it be hard on the Betta to do both at once, or should I just stick with one or the other?

 

Heat or meds, not both.

 

Heat or meds, not both.

Okay, thank you. I think that I’ll lower the temperature then and switch to the medication.

I certainly hope it’ll work.

Thank you for answering all my questions.