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Post by shakeslady on Mar 15, 2019 9:23:43 GMT -5
Had a brand new 5 gallon, semi-planted tank (combo of live plants and silk plants) fully cycled and ready for a new betta. I brought the little guy home on Wednesday and he seemed perfectly fine, other than a little freaked out from the move. The next morning I noticed about 25-30 tiny white spots , mainly on his left side. I looked him over pretty carefully, and they weren't there when I purchased him. It looked exactly like pictures of ich I had seen, but seemed relatively mild, so I removed the carbon from my filter and popped in two small medicated wonder shells and an air stone. The white spots were diminishing by evening, and while he was a little lethargic he seemed OK at lights out. He was dead by this morning.
So, assuming it was ich (sorry, I didn't take any pictures at the time), how long will it survive in the aquarium without a host? Should I leave the medicated wonder shells in to kill any remaining parasites? (I also have Paraguard on hand, and ordered some of your ich medication which is on the way.) Temp is 80-81 F. I don't want to get another betta until I'm sure the tank is safe. (I'm planning on a large water change and thorough vacuuming later today.)
Cathy
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Mar 15, 2019 11:37:21 GMT -5
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Post by Carl on Mar 15, 2019 13:33:51 GMT -5
As per the article Devon shared, it will take 3-6 weeks for the Ich to die out without a host
Dosing of Super Ich Plus or ParaGuard in the absence of fish would be a good idea too IMO
Carl
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Post by kagome on Mar 15, 2019 19:59:51 GMT -5
I'm sorry that your fish died, that really sucks.
The poor little thing probably wasn't well handled during shipping or at the store.
Definitely, keep the heat turned up. This speeds up their lifecycle. You want them to cycle around to the free swimming stage. That's when the little suckers are the most vulnerable so the meds can kill them.
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Post by shakeslady on Mar 16, 2019 20:54:05 GMT -5
Yeah, it stinks. He was a beauty. I didn't even have time to give him a name. The only thing I noticed the first day was that his gills seemed to be moving rapidly. Other than that, he seemed fine and enjoyed exploring his new home. I thought he was just stressed from being transported and moved into his tank, but from what I read it sounds like he might have already had some ich in his gills where I couldn't have spotted it. At least I was able to give him two days outside the tiny cup of doom. I'm sorry that your fish died, that really sucks. The poor little thing probably wasn't well handled during shipping or at the store. Definitely, keep the heat turned up. This speeds up their lifecycle. You want them to cycle around to the free swimming stage. That's when the little suckers are the most vulnerable so the meds can kill them.
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Post by shakeslady on Mar 16, 2019 20:58:37 GMT -5
Thanks. The Super Ich Plus arrived today. I'll do a big water change/vaccuum, turn up the heat and start dosing the tank tomorrow. I'll wait at least a month before getting another fish to be on the safe side. As per the article Devon shared, it will take 3-6 weeks for the Ich to die out without a host Dosing of Super Ich Plus or ParaGuard in the absence of fish would be a good idea too IMO Carl
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