| QUESTION: | | | | [2] What are your filters? Sponge filters are good |
| I hope you don't mind my writing to you. I saw | | | | for small aquariums especially when combined with |
| on a board that you had answered some fish | | | | HOB filters. |
| questions very intelligently and was desperately | | | | [3] What are you feeding? I would recommend a |
| hoping you might be able to shed some light on | | | | Spirulina based flake at this time as it is easy to |
| my situation. | | | | digest plus it helps with your fish immune system. |
| About a month ago, we bought a healthy goldfish | | | | Brine Shrimp is also easy to digest. |
| for my 7 year old son. Within a week he came | | | | [4] I would recommend a methylene blue dip at |
| down with a severe case of ich. We treated with | | | | double dose for 1/2 hour. To prepare this bath I |
| the salt treatment and he recovered after about | | | | use 1 teaspoon 2.303% solution per 5 gallons |
| a week. Almost immediately, his fins turned | | | | (double dose) in a bath of aquarium water from |
| raggedy white and ripped-looking - then they | | | | the tank the fish you wish to treat came from, I |
| turned black at the edges (he is a gold fantail). We | | | | usually use about a ½ gallon of water, however |
| treated this with Maracyn-2 but it did not get | | | | you may use less. Measurement of the Methylene |
| better, so we did another round. During this time | | | | Blue does not need to be precise as this bath |
| the fish became listless and started just hanging | | | | should be used for about 30 minutes (although do |
| at the bottom of the tank. After the end of the | | | | NOT overdose). Make sure you keep the water in |
| second antibiotic treatment, he stopped eating | | | | a warm area, as in a cold room the water |
| completely. Thinking that the antibiotic had not | | | | temperature can drop rapidly which would stress |
| gotten to him because of the "old" carbon filter | | | | the fish. Do NOT pour this water back into your |
| we had running, and he was still sick, we tried | | | | display aquarium when finished. This can be |
| Maracyn Plus. We are at the end of that now and | | | | performed twice per day. |
| the fish has not eaten for about 5-6 days (but | | | | [5] For goldfish a Malachite Green/ Formalin |
| doesn't seem thinner) and just stays, not | | | | combination has generally been the most |
| swimming, near the bottom of the tank. His fins | | | | effective for moderate to severe infestations. |
| are okay (not clamped) and while his eyes looked | | | | Quick Cure is good product with this combination |
| a little popped at different times, they do not | | | | of medications (Malachite Green/ Formalin). While a |
| now. He looks VERY unhappy and does not seem | | | | somewhat newer product Sea Chem ParaGuard |
| to be able to swim. | | | | is slightly safer, albeit also slightly less strong |
| During all this time we have maintained the water | | | | formulation. Malachite Green by itself as in |
| cleanliness and quality - although he did go from | | | | “Nox Ich” is also effective in moderate |
| very hard water to softer water and now has a | | | | infestations. Other treatments of note are copper |
| combination of both. (Treated of course). We | | | | sulfate and Quinine Sulfate or Hydrochloride. |
| started to decrease the salt, but that was when | | | | For mild to moderate infestations (even some |
| he fell sicker, so we have just maintained it at | | | | severe) I also use “Medicated Wonder Shells" |
| about 1 1/2 teaspoons/gallon of water, not | | | | as these products have Malachite Green (lower |
| wanting to stress him from the change. We have | | | | levels safe for most delicate fish), acriflavin, and |
| tried two different kind of food, but he doesn't | | | | small amounts of methylene blue (not enough to |
| even appear to see when we put the food in. He | | | | affect bio filtration) and copper. What is best |
| is now in a ten-gallon, though during all the | | | | about these |
| treatments, he was in a one gallon or a three | | | | Medicated Wonder Shells is that they also add |
| gallon (again - water quality tests came out ok) | | | | electrolytes, calcium and maintain a proper KH, |
| He is at room temp - about 75 - this whole time. | | | | which is very important for treatment with |
| Thank you | | | | Malachite Green as this medication is more toxic |
| ANSWER: | | | | at lower pH and KH (Best used at a pH of 7.2 or |
| [1] First, you need to lower the salt level that | | | | higher and a kH of 80 ppm or higher). |
| may have helped initially, but to much salt will | | | | [6] Pimafix would be a safe organic follow up |
| literally dehydrate your goldfish (I only | | | | treatment to your ich problem. |
| recommend one tablespoon per 5 gallons). Goldfish | | | | The "Medicated Wonder Shells” are useful for |
| absorb the water the need where saltwater fish | | | | 10 gallon or larger for ich prevention and |
| drink the water constantly. When there is too | | | | treatment, and help with secondary infection and |
| much salt in with your goldfish, it stops this ability | | | | electrolytes. |
| to absorb water and pulls the body fluids from | | | | [7] Your KH and GH is very important to your |
| your goldfish, which in the short term helps rid | | | | goldfish' healing, goldfish prefer a GH and KH over |
| your fish of the ich. | | | | 160 ppm. The GH is also an indicator of your |
| Please see this article for more information about | | | | Calcium level, which is essential for proper healing |
| the osmotic processes in fish: “How do Fish | | | | as well as osmotic balance. (Magnesium is |
| Drink; Proper Osmotic Function in Fish” | | | | important too, which can tested via a GH test). |