Is This Ich?

[siouxsie40]

Hi All,
I got this weather loach about 2 weeks ago from my lfs. Actually I bought 4 from them and 2 died within a couple of days. I was replacing 2 others I had that I lost from new tank syndrom (another story in itself). Anyway this one started out with what looked to be a body fungus of somekind. It was like white stringy looking stuff on him. He was also very slimy looking. I treated the tank with Maracyn for 5 days following the directions on the box . That seemed to clear up but then I noticed he still had these spots. So I am thinking ich here. I moved him into a Q tank and have bumped the heat up to around 86-88 F. I read the sticky about treating ich and have been following the directions. This is the 2nd day I am using the heat treatment and he has started eating and is more active. I am just wondering if the spots really are ich or possibly something else?? Am I treating for the right thing?
I've been keeping fish for 2 years now and this is the first time I ever had anykind of disease to deal with. All my water chemistry is is spot on.
Thanks! link to picture below. Not sure if I did it right
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/lspahalski

[Mad Duff]

Hi siouxsie40, I fixed the link to your photo

That doesn't look like ich to me, I would be more inclined to think it was a fungal infection.

[siouxsie40]

Hi Mad Duff!
Thanks for fixing the link to my photo

Oh wow! Any suggestions on how to treat for a fungal infection?? I was kind of doubting the ich thing being I thought ich looked more like specks of salt. Like I said I have never had to deal with diseases in my tank so I am pretty much lost here
Thanks for your reply!
Lisa

[mikev]

It does look fungal, but may be bacterial too.

True fungus tends to grow on dead fish, or dead/damaged tissue; but it may appear on a very weakened fish too. Usually does not affect fish that is healthy. Your fish is new, was stressed by transportation and another disease, so fungus is quite possible.

What is the texture of the spots? Cotton-like or solid? If former, fungus more likely (but it may be flex too), if latter, probably bacterial.

Applicable meds (fungus)
Meth Blue
Acriflavine
Maroxy
These are all anti-fungals. There are others.

If this was my fish, I'd probably try Furan2 first: it is more anti-bacterial, but has an anti-fungal component; using it covers more possibilities.

hth & good luck

[shari2]

Weather loaches are cool/cold water fish. The temp treatment may not be the best approach for them...

[siouxsie40]

Thanks for the advice Mike
After reading your post I went to the lfs and they didn't have Forsan2 but they did have Maroxy so I picked that up. I still have some Maracyn from the first time I treated him and I understand I can use this with the Maroxy. I have also turned the heat down being I am probably not dealing with ich like I thought I was.
Thanks again for taking the time to answer my post

[siouxsie40]

oops I meant Furan2

[siouxsie40]

Hi Shari2,
I realize they like cooler water I thought I was dealing with ich so I was following the advice of raising the temp that is posted in the sticky on this forum. I was hoping raising the temp wouldn't stress him further and he would pull through. So far so good as he finally started to eat and he is more active than he has been.
I turned the heater down now being I may be dealing with a fungal thing.

I also have a golden dojo for 2 years now as well as another weather loach in my big tank. I have been keeping an eye on them as the 3 of them were all together until recently. so far so good there.......keeping my fingers crossed
Thanks for your input!! I appreciate it

[mikev]

Thanks for the advice Mike
After reading your post I went to the lfs and they didn't have Forsan2 but they did have Maroxy so I picked that up. I still have some Maracyn from the first time I treated him and I understand I can use this with the Maroxy. I have also turned the heat down being I am probably not dealing with ich like I thought I was.
Thanks again for taking the time to answer my post

IMHO, don't use Maracyn. It does not do much good and increases the chances of damaging the biofilter. Maroxy can damage the filter by itself, adding another antibiotic makes it worse, especially if it is not a very good one. Instead consider a Furan2-like drug (Furanese) or Maracyn2.

[siouxsie40]

Thanks Mike!
the set up I have him in now is just a 10 gallon one I got at Walmart a couple of years ago. The filter is just one of the regular ones without a biowheel. But I understand what your saying. Good to know as my main tank is a 55 gallon with a Penguin 350 filter with 2 biowheels. Definitely not enough filter for that tank so my husband and I are considering getting a better filter system for there.
I will go back to the lfs tomorrow and pick up some Maracyn 2. I know they had that.
Thanks Again!!

[mikev]

Thanks Mike!
But I understand what your saying.

You are very welcome!

Just to make sure you do: I was not talking about the physical filters installed, but the presence of ammonia- and nitrite- processing bacteria.

As it happens, I'm treating with Maroxy right now (NOT the same illness).
I'm on day 4, with Ammonia/Nitrites at 0.5 both spikes today, and I'm not mixing in antibiotics.

What this means for you: make sure to monitor water parameters, you don't want to stress already weak fish further. Have Prime on hand. And, perhaps, increase the airation, this always helps.

And, perhaps, do consider ordering Furan2 over internet or from another store. If Maroxy does not deliver, it would be the logical next step. (And when dealing with an unknown illness, chances of a med working are not stellar.)

Good luck!

[siouxsie40]

I gotcha Mike! Thanks for making sure My lfs actually told me to make sure I keep an eye on the chemistry of the water as things will change using meds.
I am going to check another fish store for the Furan2 and if not I will definitely look online!
I truly appreciate all of your help
Thanks Again!
Lisa

[mikev]

Very welcome, Lisa,

yes, water chemistry means the same thing. While some people say that Maroxy does not damage it, it certainly did just this for me yesterday.

You can get Furan2 online, for example from LiveAquaria or ThatPetPlace.