Maracide formulas...

[cybermeez]

Very sorry to hear about the Rainbows.

Though the Dojos look awful it's good they are lively and eating. Also very good news re: the Kuhlis. They can be hard to keep even in the best of circumstances. Remember to treat for one or two more rounds even if the fish all look "clean". Ich is a sneaky, nasty little bugger. Good luck!

[Nerina]

I did the last dose on Saturday for the first 5 day treatment. I lost 4 of my 5 rainbows and one corycat. If you think I need to do another round of treatment should I make it half strength? I am concerned about losing more fish.

BTW....Why are Kuhli's hard to keep?

Thanks for all your advice...it is greatly appreciated.

Nerina~

[cybermeez]

You can try it at half dose, but that potentially could help the ich get another toe hold. Remember, just because you can't see it doesn't always mean it's gone. If it were me I'd probably switch over to Para Guard at this point. Perhaps order some Para Guard and dose the Maracide at half strength as a stop gap measure until it arrives in the mail? Have you lost any loaches?

I'm not sure why Kuhlis are hard to keep, but it's not always been so difficult. If you can get them through quarantine they are usually pretty long lived fish. I suspect environmental issues and/or lax shipping proceedures due to increased demand has impacted the survival rate.

[Nerina]

Do you think switching to another med at this point could cause problems? Someone else had said this could stress my fish further, especially rainbowfish...there is only one left though.

I am looking to purchase para guard to keep on hand ...is this a Seachem product? The one I saw online I think was copper based but can't remember. What is the active ingredient(s)?

As for the Kuhli's...I've had mine for a couple months now and they were labeled "black" but look brown to me. They seem a happy bunch and hide under the slate that holds a piece of my driftwood. They come out at night when I feed them, like wriggling earthworms...they really are cute. I swear one has almost doubled in size. Hopefully they will be long lived.

Nerina~

[cybermeez]

I'm not sure we can be certain whether it was the ich, medication or the combination of both that did in your Rainbows and Cory. Switching to Para Guard might make things better (I mean you did lose fish during the maracide treatment after all).

I think Para Guard (made by Seachem) is superior and safer than any other external parasite medication I've used. The primary active ingredient in Para Guard is similar to what's in Maracide. It contains no copper or formalin, but rather "...employs a prorietary, synergistic blend of aldehydes, malachite green and fish protective polymers." I've used just about every Ich medication on the U.S. market over the years and Para Guard is the safest and most effective in my experience.

One other question, are your water parameters within normal ranges and is your pH stable for both the tank and replacement water?

Do you think switching to another med at this point could cause problems? Someone else had said this could stress my fish further, especially rainbowfish...there is only one left though.

I am looking to purchase para guard to keep on hand ...is this a Seachem product? The one I saw online I think was copper based but can't remember. What is the active ingredient(s)?

As for the Kuhli's...I've had mine for a couple months now and they were labeled "black" but look brown to me. They seem a happy bunch and hide under the slate that holds a piece of my driftwood. They come out at night when I feed them, like wriggling earthworms...they really are cute. I swear one has almost doubled in size. Hopefully they will be long lived.

Nerina~

[Nerina]

I've tested my water a couple times and the results don't seem to change. The Ammonia and Nitrites are 0 ppm, Nitrates just over 5 ppm, and my PH seems stable around 7.8. I can test again tonight and see if there have been any changes. I will call around and see if anyone locally has para guard...if not I can order it online.

Thanks~

Nerina~