Help save my CUC...

I had ick in my tank once, I got a few cleaner shrimp. They seemed to pick the ick off of the fish. After a few weeks no more problem. All fish are healthy.

 

It is irresponsible to advise someone not to treat for disease. There is plenty of information available by the experts to contradict just letting the fish suffer and letting ich remain in the system and re-infect the fish again when they become stressed.

" Most of us do not treat for ich" what ? Here on this forum, are you speaking for the forum or for the hobby in general ?

The information via links has been provided and the OP needs to make the decision based on what the experts have to say, they did the research and they have the degrees.

 

I would just like to point out the fact that numerous reports I have read in the past do state that ick can remain in the system even after the fish is QT' Treated and Healthy. Probably Why quite a few vendors run continuous copper medications through their system constant eh?

As for the Degree, How up to date are your sources? Things in this hobby change at such a rapid pace with technology and advancements.

 

I have been a part of this forum for over a year and see how most people respond to ich. You are a new member here. I'm speaking from my experience. I have also done a lot of research on the topic.

We all said it is the OP's decision.

 

The resources are current all one has to do is google it.

There is a lot of mis information out there in the hobby regarding treatment of ich, and a lot of myths.

It seems pretty obvious that if ich where so treatable and immunity worked so well the industry would save millions of dollors and fish, but that is not happening. Why because there is no simple cure for ich or sustained immunity.

 

And that is why it is better left untreated. The only known methods of treatment aren't even a sure fire way to cure it and will cause stress to the fish or their environment; the fish's condition CAN get worse because of stress, so treatment can certainly be worse than non-treatment.

There are VERY few hobbyists who properly QT all of their fish. Kudos to those that do, but there are many of us who are successfully NOT QTing and treating for ich.

 

Guys, I didnt mean to start an uproar here, was just looking for some quick advice. I do thank everyone for their opinions and contributions to this post and on that note, lets call a truce and realize that we are all in this hobby for a reason and thats because we love it, Not for the purposes of attacking one another for our beliefs. Once again, thanks everyone for your input.

 

If I am not allowed to post this, mods please delete.

"If no new MI is introduce into an infected aquarium, the MI already there continues to cycle through multiple generations until about 10 to 11 months when the MI has ‘worn itself out’ and becomes less infective. A tank can be free of an MI infestation if it is never exposed to new MI parasites for over 11 months."

Comes from here Marine Ich - Myths and Facts - Reef Sanctuary. Another option is to just leave the fish alone in the tank if they are showing no signs of ich for a year(almost impossible for most of us) and you should be free of it. This will give you time to set up a proper QT.

Just another idea.

 

No a fish bowel will most likely not work to keep your CUC alive, go get a 10 gallon tank, last time I went to pets-mart they were 11.99, If you keep you house above 76 degree's you do not need a heater. And as far as filtration goes, a small HOB filter is more that enough for a 10 gallon, total cost about 30 bucks and you will have a quarantine tank to use in the future.

You can move your CUC to the quarantine tank but you will not be able to return them for at least 30 day to allow time for the complete cycle of C. irritans or ich to pass and not end up back in your tank.

This is one of the best articles that I have ever read about Ich, although the one posted by Country1911 is really good also.

ATJ's Marine Aquarium Site - Reference - Marine "Ich"

As fas as treating your tank, your on the right track, Hypo will do the trick but I would also recommend that while doing the hypo you might want to also feed your fish food that has been soaked in Garlic or one of my new favorites is food soaked in Ginger, a friend once showed me this trick and I will tell you it works great to bring a sick fish back to health.

This is what a friend from another forum told me and I use is and swear by it

"Fresh Ginger root is incredible when used properly. I was told there is an enzyme in it that helps flush the fish's system and boost there immune system very quickly. Most fish will not just eat the ginger root straight. You really want the juice and a little pulp to mix either with a high quality pellet or flake food. They will absorb the ginger root and your fish will gladly eat it. I use a bit of Rods food juice and add the rest.

I have literally seen a very sick fish turn completely around in a day using it. I do have to say that it does need to be fresh and never frozen or heated up. We usually keep a piece for a week then get a new one. A small piece is roughly $1.00 at Jewel or Dominick's and goes a long way."

And as far as starting an uproar, it really was not you that started it, it mostly was some irresponsible statements that have been made, which as much as I really want to continue on about them I will not.

 

there are multiple very effective cures for ich but you will not find them on store shelves... you ask why?
Its because if the store can make $50 off of a tang dieing and then another $50 from another sale of the same fish to the same customer, why would they settle for only selling a $10 bottle of miracle fix all ich medication... its corrupt and unethical business but most stores do it this way because all they care about is the $$$.
Since I am close friends with a wholesaler who actually cares about his customers, it is offered to me through him. I never have a use for it because I take care to QT and reduce stress in my fish as much as possible but I will shoot him an email to get the name and see if we can find it online somewhere.

also, NYgiants... Im taking a stab in the dark and trying not to make assumptions but ich is most likely prevalent in your system because your tank is probably newer. Over time as your water params and your bacterial populations settle, ich kinda phases itself out. a chemical fix is only a temporary one.