Is it Ich?

[sandswhitson]

We have a Powder Brown in our QT tank and he was showing signs of what I think is ICH so I lowered the SG to 1.008-1.009 and have had it at that level for about 4 days now. He started showing the spots around 8 days ago. The fish isn't scratching or breathing hard and is eating like a pig. The spots look a little larger and fuzzier than most of the pics of ICH that I have found on the web. What do you think.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Looks like the tiny white raised specks on it are probably Ich. The fuzzy ones are secondary infections.
With tangs, if it looks like it could be Ich, 99% of the time, it is.

Time for a Hypo treatment per the book?

 

[sandswhitson]

The fish is in hypo right now. Can I add something for the secondary infection while still in hypo? I am adding vitamin C to his food right now what else can I be doing?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If it appears relatively healthy and eating well, stick to the hypo and watch it closely. Lee should chime in before the day is out.
Have you had a chance to read Lee's writup on Ich and on hypo?

 

[sandswhitson]

Yeah I have read quite a bit on Hypo treatments and have done Hypo before without any issues. I figured this was ICH especially with a Powder Brown tang but was concerned about the larger fuzzier spots. The fish seems extremely healthy and eats anything that hits the water.

 

[mcoomer]

I'm always leery about treating two symptoms at the same time but if the fungal infection gets worse you'll probably want to run a course of PimaFix, Kanaplex, or Sulfathiazole. They're all supposed to be safe for your filtration system so you can use it in your main tank. Again, though I'd probably get the meds and take a wait and see approach. If the fish can get rid of the ich it will probably fight off the fungal infection as well. I'd also recommend daily sheets of nori, soaked in selcon if you have it.

Good luck,
Mike

 

[WABlonde]

We lost two tangs to ich and now have all of our fish in a QT to try to wipe it out. With ich they still ate, didn't scratch and didn't show signs of labored breathing. Just dead the next morning. Glad you're on this and treating it! Best of luck - keep us updated.

 

[sandswhitson]

Yeah I just hope that it is ich. The spots seem rather large but I have only had ich one other time and it wasn't as bad as this fish has it so I am not sure one way or the other. Has anyone treated for a secondary infection while still in hypo?

 

[leebca]

There may be something here that doesn't quite fit.

The first fish photo does not clearly show Marine Ich. There are parssites that favor Tangs which appear like small sesseme seeds. Sometimes they have a slight tear drop shape to them. That is more what the first photo looks like to me.

Tangs are easily cured of this infection. Just perform a FW dip per these instructions EXCEPT you will leave the fish in the FW for only 5 minutes. http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f15/freshwater-dip-marine-fishes-27019/

Don't stop your efforts to treat Marine Ich (I think it may have this parasite too), but do perform the FW dip and then closely inspect the bath water for signs of parasites and see if the fish doesn't look quite a bit better.

 

[sandswhitson]

Lee thanks for chiming in,

We have another problem now though, we can't find Methylene Blue anywhere local is there another medication we can use? Would just a plain freswater dip help?

 

[returnofsid]

Lee, Got a question. I'm attempting to help Scott locate some Methylene Blue, to mail to him. We have several LFS, here in our area, that I was certain would carry it. It's been years ago, but I used to use it in FW species ALL THE TIME. You used to be able to walk into ANY LFS and it was the first medication you'd see.

Well, it seems that things have changed. I've called 6 LFS, unfortunately, including 2 of the major national chains. Of those 6, 4 had never even heard of Methylene Blue. I had to laugh at them for that. #5 said that it's no longer available, due to government regulations. #6 said they haven't had access to it, for several years. At least Barbie, at Aquarium Solutions knew what it was.

Here's the question. In my old FW supplies, I've found Malachite Green. Now, from my weakened memory, it seems that I used Malachite Green, for a lot of the same problems that I used Methylene Blue for. Is it possible that Malachite Green could be substituted? If not, any idea if Methylene Blue is still available, or where one would go to get it?

 

[returnofsid]

Okay, so I spoke with a pharmacist, yesterday, at a pharmacy that compounds it's own medications, still. After doing some research, he called me back, this morning. It seems, at least in the state of Washington, Methylene Blue is now a prescription only medication. He said that he believes it is Rx only, in several states. However, he does have access to it, and is able to sell it, as long as the customer has a prescription. Personally, I have a vet that I believe would write this prescription, though it would involve paying for an "office visit." For others, who don't have access to such a vet, an alternative treatment needs to be figured out...lol.

Lee, given this information, do you have any specific suggestions, for alternative treatments, that would typically involve Methylene Blue?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I think Lee recommended a FW dip, didn't read him suggest Meth Blue

 

[sandswhitson]

If you click the link he posted it recommends a dip w/methylene blue.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If you click the link he posted it recommends a dip w/methylene blue.

You are correct, thanks.
Until Lee chimes in or you find an alternate anti fungal/bacterial, and as an old timer who used to use FW dips frequently in the 80s,
one can do a dip without the medication to give the fish some relief. Be sure the temp/ph are identical to the saltwater in the QT.

 

[sandswhitson]

We did a dip w/malachite green last night and the fish looks better today but still a lot of spots.

 

[returnofsid]

Did you happen to see anything, in the dip water, afterward?

 

[sandswhitson]

Hard to tell, there was a little sand left in the bucket that we used to dip him in so can't really see anything for sure.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If nothing larger than ich speck sized, than you are probably on the correct treatment with the hypo

 

[leebca]

Proceed with the FW dip without using MB. MG is not a substitue for what the MB is used for in the FW dip process.

I still find MB available on the Internet from hobby suppliers. Kordon is a major supplier of it, so find an LFS that has a full line of Kordon products just to be sure they can't get it for you.

Good luck!