Urgent--Help Needed--Ich

[Beaches]

I purchased a small Hippo Tang a week ago and did a "dip" before adding him to my tank (I know, I usually keep them apart from the tank for about 3 weeks, but...don't have a hospital or quarantine tank at this time--I loaned it to a friend who is also having some health issues with their tank). Anyway, it now appears to have Ich...how can I treat this while in the tank? This is the first time since starting my tank(s) I've encountered this, it's been over 2 years, so I guess I've just been lucky.

I know that feeding garlic will help, anything else I can do? My tank is mostly fish (2 chromis, tomato clown, scooter blenny), I do have 2 pepperment shrimp, 2 rock anenomes, a few crabs (including the arrow crab), snails, and about 30 lbs of lr w/a 2" deep sandbed.

I do have a 3 gallon mini I could set up (not sure how it would work though), but I'd have to tear down my tank in order to catch the little guy.

Any help you can give is greatly appreciated...I know another hard lesson learned.

[Spanky]

Beaches,

You know the drill! there's not much I can add.

What temp are you running the tank right now? Try bringing it down to 72-74F. If nothing else, it will slow down the reproductive cycle of the parasite and make more O2 available. Hopefully, it will be just enough for the fish to fight it off. Keep your water quality as high as you can, and don't feed too much.
As a last resort, you can use just about anything for a Q-tank.

Good luck,
Jerel

[Beaches]

Thanks, yes I do know the drill--that's why I love this board...I just need to be more patient with my wants/desires for the tank--it's very hard, this is a very addictive hobby!!

My temp runs between 77-79 degrees, usually 77 at night when it gets cooler. (I like leaving the windows open...sorry those of you up north, don't mean to rub it in...but here in Florida it's not that cold). I'll adjust the temp and see what happens. It's eating well and appears fine, it's not rubbing or anything (that I've seen)...hopefully it will make it through.

Thanks for the response...I'm adding the garlic today, it can't hurt, right?

[Spanky]

Now's the perfect time to use garlic. BTW, I have better luck with it using fresh out of a garlic press.

[Doug1]

Beaches, at this point reduce its stress as much as possible. Garlic may be good , I wouls certainly fortify feeding with Selcon. Make sure it has enough room that it feels comfortable in its surroundings. If its healthy to start with and has good diet and plenty of space it should be OK

[Beaches]

I've only had it since last Thursday, so maybe it's still adjusting to it's new home. I did add 2 pieces of lr on Saturday and rearranged the tank--so maybe I stressed it out by changing stuff around too soon.

I've been feeding/alternating frozen brine shrimp, spurlina (SP?) flakes, frozen "green" cubes (some kind of vegetation) and nori sheets which I always add selcon to. It really seems to like the nori and the green cubes alot.

Hopefully, all will be well...

[Beaches]

Another question...how much garlic? Do I add it to the flake w/selcon mixture? Do I need to add selcon to it too?

[murphy]

When I first introduced my Hippo he had outbreaks of ich for a month or two until he got adjusted. He was really sensitive to any change. I would work on the tank and the next day he would have an outbreak. Also, I found the best thing for them is to have a good hiding place where they can sleep at night or go to when they are disturbed as protection.

Good luck

[seafishes]

Hi Beaches, hippo's are ich magnets. Mine is named Ichy-Vicky
for just that reason. When I first introduced it it broke out
almost immediately, I started on a regimen of garlic soaked
Nori/seaweed and kept my hands out of the tank as much as
possible. It doesn't look like you have any other fish on the tank that is going to stress the guy out ( like other tangs ) so he
should clear up as soon as he adjusts.


Hope this helps!




Lori