ich problem

[Roop]

i have 7 clown loaches in my 10g tank with 3 cory fry. the cories are <1/2" each. almost all of the loaches have ich. the melafix helped at first but not now. these are scaleless fish. how should i treat them?

 

[catfishmike]

try feeding the loaches their normal food dosed with garlic extract.in a ten gal. tank this ick problem could be hadr to control as there is little volume to disperse the encrusting ich.try daily water changes,raising the temp to 82-85 F. and maybe a light solution of cure ick about half the dose recomended .any brand will do.i have never had good luck with cure ick remedies and loaches so don't say i didn't warn you

 

[AndyL]

Loaches easily get ich, and easily recover from it... Raise the temperature like catfishmike mentioned, but I'd avoid the medications, clean water and salt would be my cure (I use about double the recommended amount, which I cant find the box, think its 1tbsp/10g I could be wrong). Just remember, salt doesn't evaporate, so every 3-4 waterchanges add some back in (not the full amount) adding a capful of melafix at each water change doesn't hurt either.

Waterchanges Waterchanges Waterchanges. 20%/day preferably, make sure you're taking the time to clean the gravel while you're doing those water changes.

Remember all those clown loaches are going to get WAY too big for that tank, I've seen pictures of 20" specimens!