ick, epistylis or something else ?

[Mike Wise]

It appears to be Ich. Note that clown loaches are extremely sensitive to medications, so I would try some other method to cure the fish.

 

[anewbie]

It appears to be Ich. Note that clown loaches are extremely sensitive to medications, so I would try some other method to cure the fish.

Given the volume of water i think the only thing i can do is increase the temp; i'm more concern about what would be stressing her as i understand ick is an opportunistic parasite. I got a better look at the run clown and i'm not sure it has ick - the fins are clamp but i didn't really notice any actual ick -

Is there anything other than maybe raising the temp to 86 that I can try to help her - i can't really use much salt as the tank is planted - i could do a large (200 gallon) water change but the water is quite clean given the current fish density and drip system.

 

[anewbie]

Forget it - she took a long swim and all the white dots vanished - i mean it might be something that needs attending but whatever it is it doesn't seem to be 'stuck' to her. I only have two large ones - a female and male so she is easy to pick out from the flock.

 

[Mike Wise]

To me it sound like the cysts have dropped off and are multiplying. Then they will re-infest any stressed fish.

 

[anewbie]

To me it sound like the cysts have dropped off and are multiplying. Then they will re-infest any stressed fish.

I'll keep an eye on her and the rest of them. I also turned on the UV system - it won't 'fix' the problem but it can't hurt - i guess the bigger question for me is what is stressing her. I just don't know what else to do ...

 

[anewbie]

Btw about 3 days later all the dots left all the fishes (the runt clown loach i have - 2 1/2 inches after 4 years) was completely covered and in truth he got abused during the move since i was going to give him away so i left him in a 5 gallon pail for 2 weeks before putting him back in the 550 - so i'm not sure why it cleared up - if it was the uv system or raising the temp 2 degrees (78 to 80) or just whatever but after it left the runt it hasn't come back at all.

I suppose the next time i hiss at them or do something else to stress them it will return but for now everyone looks good (i had hte uv system on for 1 week and then unplugged it - it is a pair of 40 watt units).

 

[anewbie]

And now 5 months later the dots still have not returned. Note this is the side of the tank that face my desk; they have 10 feet of aquarium space and yet they have to pile up right next to my desk; probably giving me the evil eye: