Could this be ick?

PolarBear · 05-26-2006, 11:48 AM

Just curious if this might be ick on my Green Severum? I recently changed the substrate in this 45g tank from crushed coral to a more appropriate black gravel. In doing so the tank was naturally stirred up quite a bit for about 12 hours. The next day I noticed that my Green Severum was not as active as she usually is and then I saw the white spots on her face. My immediate thought was Ick.

Her symptoms are: Lethargic, clamped fins, stays mainly in the back of the tank near the water's surface and of course the white specks. She does still come to the front of the tank when she sees me walk by and she stills eats well.

Any help would be appreciated as I've never encountered ick before. Thanks

One more ?: Should I do a water change inbetween doses of Maracide? I'm also trying to lower the nitrates in this tank as they were about 80ppm before I changed the substrate. My main reason for changing the substrate was to lower the pH. It was running about 7.8.

jhj · 05-26-2006, 11:55 AM

Based on the pics, looks like some sort of fungul linfection (if anything), but not ich. Maybe someone else can chime in and confirm

P.S. Does it flash?

PolarBear · 05-26-2006, 12:01 PM

Does what flash?

Cathy · 05-26-2006, 12:20 PM

Flashing is when a fish rubs itself against a plant/rock or something. It can be their way to scratch - a sign of ich. (They also will flash for other reasons so flashing in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean ich)

To me, it doesn't look like ich either. Ich looks like salt grains, like someone sprinkled salt on your fish.

I'd do LOTS of water changes and get those nitrates down to under 20. Hopefully by keeping the water pristine, your fish's immune system will fight back and be able to throw off whatever it is. Most 'fungus' infections are really bacterial, so if you need to do something I'd go with Maracyn 1 and 2, not the maracide - however, you can use all 3 together.

It would also be strange for ich to show up just because you changed the gravel...

Good Luck,

Cathy

PolarBear · 05-26-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathy

Flashing is when a fish rubs itself against a plant/rock or something. It can be their way to scratch - a sign of ich. (They also will flash for other reasons so flashing in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean ich)

To me, it doesn't look like ich either. Ich looks like salt grains, like someone sprinkled salt on your fish.

I'd do LOTS of water changes and get those nitrates down to under 20. Hopefully by keeping the water pristine, your fish's immune system will fight back and be able to throw off whatever it is. Most 'fungus' infections are really bacterial, so if you need to do something I'd go with Maracyn 1 and 2, not the maracide - however, you can use all 3 together.

It would also be strange for ich to show up just because you changed the gravel...

Good Luck,

Cathy

Ugh....thanks for the replies...I dosed with Maracide yesterday. Stupid me. Well....should I do a big water change and then use the anti-fungal medicine? Or would it be better to put my carbon back in for a day and then start over with the fungus meds?

Daveedka · 05-26-2006, 12:59 PM

My personal experience with Fuingus Especially on Big new world Cichlids is that if you get the tank cleaned up well the fish usulaly recover on their own. I do not have a lot of experience with this as fungus is somethingI've managed to avoid for the most part. I would also be cautious of changing too much too quickly. Depending on what the tap water Kh and Gh levels were, You just altered the chemistry in the tank significantly. The fish may just be stressed out a bit from the changes. This doesn't mean I think you did something wrong, only that it is something to be aware of for sure.

Either way it definately does not appear to be ich from what I can see in the pictures.
given the harshness of some meds, If what you have aded does not apply to what you are treating I would definately say you should remove the bulk f it and then treat with something to specifically target you conditions. Water changes or Ac in the filter would do the trick, but Water changes are faster and more reliable than AC.
Dave

PolarBear · 05-26-2006, 01:15 PM

Thanks for the info Dave. Most appreciated.

05-26-2006, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
PolarBear Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 94	Could this be ick? Just curious if this might be ick on my Green Severum? I recently changed the substrate in this 45g tank from crushed coral to a more appropriate black gravel. In doing so the tank was naturally stirred up quite a bit for about 12 hours. The next day I noticed that my Green Severum was not as active as she usually is and then I saw the white spots on her face. My immediate thought was Ick. Her symptoms are: Lethargic, clamped fins, stays mainly in the back of the tank near the water's surface and of course the white specks. She does still come to the front of the tank when she sees me walk by and she stills eats well. Any help would be appreciated as I've never encountered ick before. Thanks One more ?: Should I do a water change inbetween doses of Maracide? I'm also trying to lower the nitrates in this tank as they were about 80ppm before I changed the substrate. My main reason for changing the substrate was to lower the pH. It was running about 7.8. Last edited by PolarBear : 05-26-2006 at 11:55 AM.

05-26-2006, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
jhj Sargent Barber Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arlen, Texas (columbus, oh) Posts: 405	Based on the pics, looks like some sort of fungul linfection (if anything), but not ich. Maybe someone else can chime in and confirm P.S. Does it flash? __________________ " My dad used to punish me by telling me I was a girl. He used to make me wear a dress! Pretty, pretty dresses"

05-26-2006, 12:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Daveedka in memory of Rusty Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,974	My personal experience with Fuingus Especially on Big new world Cichlids is that if you get the tank cleaned up well the fish usulaly recover on their own. I do not have a lot of experience with this as fungus is somethingI've managed to avoid for the most part. I would also be cautious of changing too much too quickly. Depending on what the tap water Kh and Gh levels were, You just altered the chemistry in the tank significantly. The fish may just be stressed out a bit from the changes. This doesn't mean I think you did something wrong, only that it is something to be aware of for sure. Either way it definately does not appear to be ich from what I can see in the pictures. given the harshness of some meds, If what you have aded does not apply to what you are treating I would definately say you should remove the bulk f it and then treat with something to specifically target you conditions. Water changes or Ac in the filter would do the trick, but Water changes are faster and more reliable than AC. Dave __________________ I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!

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05-26-2006, 12:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
PolarBear Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 94	Does what flash?

05-26-2006, 12:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cathy Bolivians Rock Join Date: May 2006 Location: Waukesha, Wisconsin Posts: 223	Flashing is when a fish rubs itself against a plant/rock or something. It can be their way to scratch - a sign of ich. (They also will flash for other reasons so flashing in and of itself doesn't necessarily mean ich) To me, it doesn't look like ich either. Ich looks like salt grains, like someone sprinkled salt on your fish. I'd do LOTS of water changes and get those nitrates down to under 20. Hopefully by keeping the water pristine, your fish's immune system will fight back and be able to throw off whatever it is. Most 'fungus' infections are really bacterial, so if you need to do something I'd go with Maracyn 1 and 2, not the maracide - however, you can use all 3 together. It would also be strange for ich to show up just because you changed the gravel... Good Luck, Cathy

05-26-2006, 01:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
PolarBear Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 94	Thanks for the info Dave. Most appreciated.

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