Is it possible?

[idgy]

Ok, I am back with more questions on ICH. I wrote a few weeks back on my fish having ICH. Ok, well several week have gone by since I noticed the scratching. But none of them ever got white spots. What I thought was ich on one fish turned out to be a speck of sand. No fish ever got any white spots. But every so often I still see them scratching on something. Not a lot of the time. They are eating like pigs, their behavior is normal.

I did read everything that people reffered me too. So I am a bit confused. No white spots. Could it be something else?

 

[james734]

Scratching is usually indication of something irritating the skin. If I remember your other thread you have them in QT now and are treating with hypo. If it where me I'd continue this treatment until the 6-8 weeks is up. Just to be on the safe side. No reason to cut it short only to have to start over again.

 

[mmkeeper]

If you can't qt them. at the least feed them with food soaked in garlic extract.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

If you can't qt them. at the least feed them with food soaked in garlic extract.

Why? they're eating like pigs already and we are talking about potential disease, not vampires.

 

[idgy]

What does garlic do for them?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

For some fish, it can be an appetite stimulant. Thats about it. Lee has a good writeup on it.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Lee's Garlic thread: http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28423&highlight=garlic

 

[idgy]

Thanks, Herefishyfishy. Interesting article.

 

[Reeferdude]

The article states some positive results and posibilities pertaining to the use of Garlic.

"I have seen garlic juice do the following: Sometimes create a kind of frenzy (agitation) in the fishes
Work as a weak antimicrobial agent,..."

"But if the fish absorbs some in its mouth before it swallows it, it can provide a weak antimicrobial effect."

"Garlic juice has some topical benefits. Because it is antimicrobial in nature, it can and does slow down/retard secondary, bacterial infections..."

"It's interesting to note that the work with garlic juice has shown some affects with its ability to provide some antimicrobial effects..."

"But. . .He makes his own? I do use it on new fishes in an attempt to get them to eat and reduce the microbe content of my quarantine tank."

FROM A POST.

"There are so many protein molecules produced by the damaged garlic clove that we haven't begun to discover all the possibilities of the effects it may have."

 

[Herefishyfishy]

All true, but MI is not bacteria.

 

[Reeferdude]

I don't recall "it" (the problem) being diagnosed to be MI or anything else for that matter. If I'm not mistaken it's all speculation at this point.

 

[star rider]

isn't one of the associated issues with ich secondary bacterial infection?

I think there is a lot still to learn about natural remedies.