This Is Ich, Right?

I

iapetus

Large Fish
#1
Jan 15, 2008
572
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34:09:39N, 118:08:19W
#1
Let me start off by saying that I don't have any easy way to post pictures. If people are having a difficult time answering this, maybe I can find a way to do so later.

About a week and a half ago, I noticed what I am pretty sure are tell-tale ich markings on my red lyretail swordtail, J. Todd Smith. I've tried using Ich Attack, an organic ich medicine from Kordon. I've tried using a formalin (formaldehyde) product from Wardley. Neither has worked. I'm thinking that I'll run out and buy some Coppersafe or Rid-Ich+ tonight. I want Todd out of that QT tank!!!

But, before I medicate with something else, I'd like to ask a question that's been bugging me. Could this be something other than ich? The salt-like white spots are only on his fins: his dorsal fin, his tail fin, his pectoral fins and his gonopodium (when I think what that one is used for, I cringe thinking there are parasites on it! ;)). Maybe the ich parasites are just preferentially attaching themselves to his fins where his slime coating might not be as thick? Other ideas?

Thanks in advance!
 

I

iapetus

Large Fish
#7
Jan 15, 2008
572
0
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34:09:39N, 118:08:19W
#7
I Don't Think This Is (Just) Ich

I'm pretty sure that my fish doesn't have ich. Or, at the very least, he's got something else in addition to ich.

I've treated him with the medications I mentioned in my OP and with CopperSafe for four days now. The white spots aren't going away. Todd is lying about the floor of the tank, generally, pretty listless. Every now and then he'll dart around. Because the problem is restricted to his fins and they're looking worse and worse, I'm thinking that he must have some sort of fin rot.

My current plan is to run out tonight and start treating with Maracyn-Plus. Among the list of treatments for fin rot in the brochure that came with the CopperSafe is treating with Maracyn-Plus plus CopperSafe. So, I figure that by adding Maracyn-Plus, I should be able to target the fin rot. If it's just a case of ich, the CopperSafe will have more time to work.

The good thing is that he's still eating. I picked up some live brine shrimp over the weekend. He enjoys hunting those down. But, after a while, he gives up on the chase (maybe his fins are bothering him?). So, I'm hoping to get him the right medication in time (i.e. before he stops eating).

Any thoughts?
 

TabMorte

TabMorte

Superstar Fish
#8
Jan 17, 2008
1,470
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0
#8
If it is Ich be ware you need to treat the whole tank (Unless you something in it that can't tolerate the treatment) because if you have Ich in one fish you probably have it hiding in the tank - it had to get in some how.
 

I

iapetus

Large Fish
#10
Jan 15, 2008
572
0
0
34:09:39N, 118:08:19W
#10
marvin said:
well now one more suggestion pimafix & stress coat @ aquarium pharmaceuticals wish yuo had a pic...
Click to expand...
Well, Pimafix is definitely on the list of things to try. I'm just really, really hoping that I won't have to try anything else and that he'll respond to the Maracyn-Plus!

I hear you about the picture. I may try to post one tonight, as I think that's one reason why people are having a hard time helping me. However, I anticipate that it'll be difficult to get a good shot of his fins. He mostly sits on the bottom of the tank now with his fins clamped. When he moves, he tends to dart about. Maybe I'll be able to catch him going after some brine shrimp.

And, TabMorte, I'm aware of the issue of ich in the main tank. I've been monitoring its inhabitants since I removed the sick fish. No one is showing any signs of it and it's been well over a week since I removed him (I continued dosing the main tank with Kordon's Ich Attack for a few more days after the quarantining). If there was ich involved, I'm sure that the sick fish brought it in with him.
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#11
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
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#11
Maracyn-Plus and Coppersafe should knock out most things. If the size of each spot is growing, it's probably not ich. If it's the number of spots that's increasing, it's more likely ich, or possibly something like velvet.

Livebearers seem to be prone to skin/fin fungus (bacterial infection). It's most common under stressful conditions (such as overcrowding, incompatible tankmates, wrong ratio of males to females, water quality problems or adding a lot of fish in a short time).
 

I

iapetus

Large Fish
#12
Jan 15, 2008
572
0
0
34:09:39N, 118:08:19W
#12
Thanks for the reply, Lotus! I think you may be right on about the skin/fin fungus.

I added some Maracyn-Two, not Maracyn-Plus, as they didn't have it at the LFS. Re-reading the chart, I think this is also a recommended treatment regimen.

I did a ~30% water change before adding the Maracyn-Two. And, in part because he looks to be having a hard time breathing, I added some aquarium salt.

Unfortunately, he seemed much less interested in food when I fed him this evening. :( On the other hand, he looks less listless and more active. I'll see how he's doing in the morning after another feeding before bedtime. Hmm ... *SICK*
 

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