Fish Thread for posting Pictures of our fish, tanks, ponds, and Q & A

[Kevin565]

I understand that the Ich is in the tank not just on the carriers. I think your advice is solid and very helpful. I would use that method on any of my tropical fish. My only concern is the possible negative effects it could have on the minnows since they aren't tropical fish.

 

[Andi]

Taking the tetras out to treat them won't work. The tank needs to be treated. Taking the wcmm out to treat them in a bare tank with chemicals would be more logical, but only if the mature trophozites are about to break loose from the fish. That encysted trophonts will fall from the fish and attach to something and begin the next stage of its cycle. One cyst will, after a few days, burst into 2000 free-swimming looking for a host. There's no way of knowing which stage or stages are present because ich isn't always very obvious at first. Ich can attach in the gills and on wcmm that wouldn't be noticeable.
By the way, the free-swimming stage is the only stage that chemicals will work on. When the ich is in a cyst or under the skin of the fish it is protected. Also, ich can remain dormant dried up.
The wcmm need to be included in the treatment or they will die anyway and possibly reinfect the tank. Just because the ich isn't being seen on the wcmm doesn't mean they aren't infected. Chances are much more likely that they are.
If it were my situation I would keep everyone in the tank and treat with heat with a bit of salt to relieve stress by making osmoregulation easier on the fish so they can use that energy on recovery. I would stop feeding for a week. Vacuum the gravel well after the treatment. Then I would hope that the tissue damage done by the ich isn't too severe so the fish will recover.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

You know, Chickenfan, back then there was a huge recall on aquarium heaters. Sorry I can't remember the brand name. If that was the reason you got lucky. Some of the heaters were exploding. A friend had one cook her fish and short out.

We had a heater explode. No fish died. The heater was whistling so I unplugged it and took it out. I put it in a bucket and then it shattered. The things that were stuck to it died. We had to get a new one for our saltwater fish.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

We also have a Pleco and two shrimp.

I booted up the heaters temp, so I will check and see if the its any warmer. I will have to stop by the pet store later and get some freshwater salt. Surprisingly no other fish have died.

The Pleco we have we have had for many many years. Maybe 7. When we lost a whole tank to ich, he still lived. Why hasn't he caught ich at all? Or has he I just don't notice it?

 

[Andi]

Wow, Peep, that's amazingly lucky with the heater! I've heard stories of exploding heaters shattering tanks.
As far as the pleco it may be because of the armor plating and luck. I've heard of one instance of cories being the only survivors also.

 

[cochins1088]

I don't raise tropical fish anymore so I no longer use heaters. Thankfully I've never had one explode, but I did have one that gave off an electrical current.

It happened in a tank full of blue shusui koi fry. 1/2 of them were electrocuted, 1/4 of them were alive but had crooked spines, and 1/4 of the them remained ok.


As far as ich goes, I've never had experience with it and I feel quite fortunate for that. Especially considering that when I first began, I'd buy from all sorts of pet stores and I'd never quarantine.

 

[MyPetNugget]

I was reading about how some people had their heaters explode. My new tank comes with a light bulb heater and on of my betta fish has an underwater disk-shaped one. Are those likely to explode?

 

[Andi]

No. The recalled heaters were Marineland Stealth and Stealth Pro. Its too bad because they were one of the first fully submersible non-glass heaters. For me they were excellent at maintaining the correct temperature. When I had my fishroom most of the heaters I used were them. I had only one with any issues. That one was putting out an electrical current. Surprisingly, I didn't have any fish or shrimp loss, but I was getting a shock every time I touched that racking (which was metal). I never pinned down for sure which of those tanks it was before hearing about the recall and getting them all replaced. The only issue I've heard of with the disk heaters is their limited heating ability and that they burn out faster. As far as the light bulb heater, I've never heard of the bulbs being the heat source on purpose. Some of the lights that aren't as efficient give off heat which would heat the water. I'm personally a bit wary of using that for a heat source, depending on the species of fish. When the lights are out the water will cool significantly, depending on the air temp of the room. Bettas are an example of a species that would be fine with that. They evolved in shallow water that heats up well into the 80s during the day and cools at night.(Speaking of temp and Bettas, they will be happier and look better if they are kept at temps in the 80s.) Any ditch type fish would be fine with that. Fish that come from large deeper bodies of water would have evolved to being accustom to more stable temps (much like the touchiness to changing water parameters for saltwater fish).
Sorry, but I have a difficult time with short answers. Hahaha!

 

[MyPetNugget]

No. The recalled heaters were Marineland Stealth and Stealth Pro. Its too bad because they were one of the first fully submersible non-glass heaters. For me they were excellent at maintaining the correct temperature. When I had my fishroom most of the heaters I used were them. I had only one with any issues. That one was putting out an electrical current. Surprisingly, I didn't have any fish or shrimp loss, but I was getting a shock every time I touched that racking (which was metal). I never pinned down for sure which of those tanks it was before hearing about the recall and getting them all replaced. The only issue I've heard of with the disk heaters is their limited heating ability and that they burn out faster. As far as the light bulb heater, I've never heard of the bulbs being the heat source on purpose. Some of the lights that aren't as efficient give off heat which would heat the water. I'm personally a bit wary of using that for a heat source, depending on the species of fish. When the lights are out the water will cool significantly, depending on the air temp of the room. Bettas are an example of a species that would be fine with that. They evolved in shallow water that heats up well into the 80s during the day and cools at night.(Speaking of temp and Bettas, they will be happier and look better if they are kept at temps in the 80s.) Any ditch type fish would be fine with that. Fish that come from large deeper bodies of water would have evolved to being accustom to more stable temps (much like the touchiness to changing water parameters for saltwater fish).
Sorry, but I have a difficult time with short answers. Hahaha!

ok thanks.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

We have salt in the tank.

One thing, my Pleco isn't looking to good. He is sticking part of his nose out of the water and is sitting in one area. Ideas?