clown loaches have Ich

[lepageg]

Hi, my main tank (90g) has just contracted ich. conditions are good (ph water quality and temps) and its made up of general community (shoal of barbs, african perches, bushynose pleco, small giraffe catfish and 2 couple of clown loaches)

In the past, when dealing with Ich, I would dose using coppersafe and had good results.

This time however is different, there are loaches present and given they are more sensitive to medication.

From what i have read, people have had good success with Rid Ich, however because i have not used this product I would like advice regarding its use versus the coppersafe at half dosage.

I am starting to slowly raise the temperature around 86F in preparation to starting treatment and am seeking advice as too any preferred method of treatment.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
/ger.

[robt18]

With clown loaches I find the best treatment is just heat. Give them 4-5 days at 86 degrees and the ich should disappear, and another week to make sure it doesn't come back. Slowly bring your temperature back down and they should be fine as long as other conditions are still good and they're getting enough food, etc.

Avoid medication if at all possible!

[lepageg]

The heat treatment works for the majority of types of Ich, however there are stubborn strains that need an extra push. 

I will try the heat treatment for 2 weeks and see where it brings me.  Wish me luck.

Cheers.

[lepageg]

alright, were at 86.5 in one thermometer and 85.9 in the other, so far, so good.

The fish are much more active, which is expected.  I will continue the normal feeding regiment of nls pellets twice a day.

btw, I had trouble getting the temp up that high, for some reason these eheim heaters which are supposed to be the best were having trouble raising the temp.  I had two, one 250w and another 300w. I would have thought for a 90gal, even one would have been enough. Anyways were up there now, that's what counts.

steady as she goes.

[touchofsky]

Glad you got the temperature up, and please keep us posted on how it works out.

[lepageg]

Live and Learn.

A word of advice on doing this type of experiment, make sure your thermometer are properly calibrated.  I was wondering why my tank felt Soo hot, something did not feel right.  I was using two thermometers that were about 6 months or so old thinking i was safe, and it turns out they were both off by a large margin, NOT good.  Discovered this after purchasing 3 additional thermometers from BA on Friday, 2 electronic types and an old cheapo mercury base.  There was a huge difference.

For the record i had 5 thermometers,  2 old ones reading about 86, 87 respectively, two new one reading 92, 93 and the old cheapo mercury reading closer to 96 F, what discrepancy, which one should I believe in?.  what do you think?

Things are back down to normal if that's possible for now but it could have been disastrous.....

Anyways, are they all created equal, can they be re-calibrated, how often (every 6 months or it depends?) and are there any alternatives, like the old faithful mercury types that do not need recalibration?

[touchofsky]

I just use the little floating glass thermometers that hang on the side of the tank with a suction cup.  When picking one out at the store, I check all of the available ones and  don't pick one that is way off from the majority.  I have had some of these for over 20 years and they are still accurate.