I have a 60 gallon tank that we've had for over a year now. I had an algae problem. Last week I bought a new magnet brush (love it) some algae killer (only used a tiny bit) and two cory catfish, two african dwarf frogs, and a pleco. Now I've lost three fish-one of them a clown loach that we've had since we started with a ten gallon tank. He (she) is prob 3+ inches long. Why is everyone dying? I've turned up the heat, did a water change today. It's really really upsetting to see all of my older established fish dying like this. I read that the clown loaches are social and one won't survive on it's own so I obviously need to get another but dare not buy anything now. When do I replace? Is there anything I can do/say to Petsmart (where I bought the new fish and would only assume the ich came from-maybe I'm wrong) about the disease and all of my lost fish? This all started Thursday-that's when I turned up the heat at least...
Ich- I am so upset
- Thread starter fishrookie
- Start date
I always ask the clerks at pet stores if they have had any recent problems with disease before I buy.
This loss could have easily been avoided if you still had that 10 gallon and used it as a quarantine tank.
I doubt the loss the fish is coming from Ich alone. What are your water parameters and temperatures? How fast did you increase temperature and by how much? Are you using meds? If so how much?
This loss could have easily been avoided if you still had that 10 gallon and used it as a quarantine tank.
I doubt the loss the fish is coming from Ich alone. What are your water parameters and temperatures? How fast did you increase temperature and by how much? Are you using meds? If so how much?
Ich is a slow killer so fish will not be dropping dead overnight from it. Be careful with any meds, clown loaches are especially sensitive them, I suggest just using heat.
Think carefully, is there anyway any soap, air spray, anything could have contaminated your tank? That is the fastest way to wipe out fish.
Think carefully, is there anyway any soap, air spray, anything could have contaminated your tank? That is the fastest way to wipe out fish.
MissFishy is right about the loach - scaleless fishes are extremely sensitive to medication. I have had huge success just using aquarium salt to cure ich. About a tablespoon of aquarium salt (not table salt, it has chemicals in it) or pure sea salt per five gallons of water worked like an absolute charm for me and cured all of the ich in my tank. It takes about ten days for the last ich spot to disappear, but trust me, it will be very easy on your tank and your fish in comparison to the harsh medications. Some fish are sensitive to salt, so make sure to read up on it (like corys). I worked at a PetSmart in Florida when I was in highschool, and trust me, most of the employees in the aquatics section won't really have any idea what is going on in the tanks. Most of them are not seasoned tank keepers, so you won't get much help from them. After all the ich is gone, you can slowly cycle the salt out of the tank by doing water changes (It doesn't get filtered out or evaporate). Hope this helps!