new sword with ich-Rid Ich/no great improvement

[traco1]

My fish I picked up at a fish store 2 weeks, central filtration, were doing fine. I put some floating plants in the tank a week ago. Had no light on the tank before that and thought I should put one on for the live plants. When I turned the light on, I saw one of the orange double swords had ich on her. I have been treating with Rid-Ich + for 5 days now. It went away a bit on her body but her tail and bottom fins still have something there. There is also a white spot which just came up yesterday on her body near the tail. I added some salt to the tank yesterday.

All 3 other fish are fine, another sword and male and female molly. How long can I dose the Rid Ich? Is there anything else I should be doing or is it a lost cause (I ask that due to she has not improved a great deal after 5 days of meds)?

Help please?:(

[CACAdmin]

After two weeks the ich has had a chance to get well established in your tank. The spots that have disappeared from the body of the sword will have landed at the bottom of the tank as cysts and hatch into swimmers after a day. So what you will have is ich in various stages of development. This 'swimmer' stage is the stage at which Rid Ich+ attacks it.

I'm no expert but if it were me, but as you have been treating for 5 days, if it were me, I would treat for another 5-7 days to be sure. Stopping now will set you back to square one. Also, remeber when ich first attaches to the fish isn't necessarily noticeable or if I remember correctly can even establish in their gills.

The other fish might be healthier and have a greater immunity or you just might not be seeing it on them yet.

I posted this link to an article on the lifecycle of ich in this thread (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1478) about ich but I'll repost it here: http://www.aquamaniacs.net/forum/cms_view_article.php?aid=27

Best of luck!

[traco1]

Thank you, Jay. I didn't know how long I could treat with the Rid Ich as I have read to treat for 3 days, then a rest of a couple of days, treat again for a day, etc... up to three more treatments.

I'll continue with the treatment. Adding the salt is okay along with the meds? Thank goodness it's a bare bottom tank, makes for really easy cleaning.

[CACAdmin]

I haven't added additional salt with Rid Ich+ but I always have some salt in the tank so I would think it's fine. Resting a day (IMO) might allow some of the 'swimmers' to survive. Although I guess theoretically, if they are free swimming for 2 days you would supposedly get them all... but that would only be allowing for a one day window of opportunity.

If you don't get rid of it all, it will just reappear and you'll be back to square one, needing to do a full treatment again. Don't forget to keep doing the recommended water changes and of course a thorough cleaning of the tank bottom. Best of luck!

[Melody]

Some Ich cases are more stubborn than others. You can up it to two doses/day according to the bottle and I've had to do that once. Waterchanges with the vacuum are crucial, but make sure you disinfect the hose after each time.

[traco1]

Disinfect the hose because it could be introduced again? I'm using it's own hose for that tank, not used on other tanks.

[Melody]

Exactly.:yes: