Looking for info on Pigmy Cory and Ich

[woof99]

Hi guys,
I just brought home 3 Pigmy Cory's...gosh they are so cute!  And so small!!!!

I was just curious if their needs are different than other Cory's, I have 4 others (Bronze and red eared)  they are all great but these guys are so small... 

Also, have people had any luck breeding them?

I love them!!

[dan2x38]

Did you try Google: http://www.petsparade.co.uk/articles/?a=88

[woof99]

That is great thanks.

I am so upset, I just noticed that one of the cory has some spots...  Ich I think! 
I already added them to the tank.

Is there any possility that it won't spread to the others? 
I don't have a quarantine tank, so should I run out tomorrow and get treatment or just add salt.

[renadia]

Hi,

Just went through this not long ago, here's the tread it might help 

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=21849.msg152825#msg152825

I lost a catfish    He was full of spots when I noticed it.

Bring your water temperature up and add oxygen.

Hope it works out

Diane

[dan2x38]

What other fish are in your tank? Rasing the temp to 86 is the best to start. Is you tank planted? How many fish in your tank? How many show signs of ich?

[woof99]

The rest of the fish are platy's and guppy's, 1 SAE and cory's-  Yes, the tank is planted.

There is only 1 with spots, he has quite a bit and I am upset at myself for not noticing in the bag!...Stupid Stupid me!
I took him out and I know this is not the best but I put him in a large container with water from the tank.  I will add an airstone to the bowl and return him to BA's tomorrow.

I wonder if there is any chance at all that the tank won't be contaminated.  He was in there for 3 hours.  I looked over the others and they have nothing at all that is visible.

I have never had Ich, I guess it was a matter of time!  I will turn up the heat just in case...
Thank you for the help guys!

[dan2x38]

You may be lucky. How many fish did you buy along with that one. Those will all be infested it takes time to show. If your lucky great... ich works in a cycle... when you see the spots they cannot be treated (killed)... the eggs erupt from the fish's flesh then fall into the substrate... from there they hatch into the water column to find a host fish this is the only time they can be treated - killed and the cycle goes and so on, and so on until all the fish are infested and eventually all die...

Take all the fish you bought out of the tank and return not just the one... raise the temp. in the tank slowly up to 84-86... the high temps. increases the life cycle of the ich... then you will know if any others are infested... I would not treat if none are showing any spots right now... salt and chems. are stressful on plants & most bottom feeders... YOU MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN LUCKY...

Ich is easy to treat don't panic... catching it early is always great... follow the steps and listen to the advice here is great... they might not have shown signs at BA or in the bag... Goggle & research is always the best and more than one source then post and check if not sure...

[irene]

If you bought other cories from the same tank, it's very likely they've all got it.  I'd wait a few days before returning your sick one.  If other fish in the tank start to show spots you might as well put him back in the tank and treat the whole tank.  Raise the temps slowly the 86 + degrees, I raised mine to 90F for an ick outbreak I had in the summer, got rid of the ich in about 2 wks.

Irene

[woof99]

As always, lot's of good advice!  Thank you so much!!

I will return all the Cory's I bought that were in the affected tank today... If I ever get out of the garage...getting winter tires put on!    I know, I know bad of me to have waited so long, I can't believe all this snow! 

I will keep you posted. 

[PaleoFishGirl]

The fish probably didn't have ich when you bought it, it's likely you would have noticed.  It was probably triggered by the stress and the change in water parameters in the move from the tank in the store to the tank in your home.  Ich is easy to treat, if you follow the advice you've been given here your fish will likely be fine - don't stress them out any further by trying to catch them, bag them, drive them back to the store in the cold!

[Fishnut]

Yes, the fact that the fish have already been in the tank for a few hours means that there is a pretty good chance that the other fish will get it now.  Since you're going to have to adjust the temp for the existing fish, I would keep the corys. 

If you have the space, you really should buy a small quarantine tank.  5 Gallons is all you need.  It's not just ich you have to worry about.  There are tones of fish diseases out there that could potentially infect your existing healthy fish.  Buying them and putting them directly into your tank is always risky. 2 or 3 weeks in quarantine and you have more healthy fish to add to your main display!  If they get sick, oh well, you have then separated and can treat the disease.