Need help please! Mikrogeophagus ramirezi fry with white spots..

[Boupette]

12 days frre swimming, what should I do? Is 86-87°F is too hot for them?

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[sasikan]

i keep mine at about 82-85 would they have been in a tank with cooler water for a wile?

 

[Boupette]

They have always been at 80.

 

[Boupette]

86°F since yesterday but it seems the white spots are getting more and more on the fry... what else can I do, I don't wanna lose them.

 

[Boupette]

Most of them are about to be like this, it was not like that this morning!! Please I need help!

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[Boupette]

Didn't have the time to wait so I tried what I know best: 2 tablespoonful of salt for each 10 gallons of water. t° 87. everything seems to be ok after 10 minutes.

I'm scared cause I never had to treat so small fish.

 

[Boupette]

It's getting worst and worst. What do you think if I treat with Cupramine.

 

[Boupette]

It seems to begin with very small white spots and it grows on the fish. So on every fish there are very small white spots and bigger white spots. Some of them are almost full of it.

I'm wondering if it's really Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis or if it something else that I don't know of.

 

[gerald]

It certainly looks like common Ichthyophthirius to me. Usually heat above 85 kills it but it seems you have a heat-tolerant strain - not surprising given the huge number of SE Asian fish farms. Try an anti-protozoan med with formalin and malachite green, or API General Cure, or Jungle Parasite Guard. Copper-based meds like Cupramine can be risky if your Ca/Mg hardness is low (less than 3 DH or 50 mg/l). Fortunately the fish still look healthy and active.

 

[Boupette]

I think it's getting better, don't know if I'm dreaming but I think the salt and the heat is beginning to have a impact on those beasts!! I keep on nourrishing them 3-4 times a day and they eat likes pigs, that's a good sign at least, I turn out the light right after. The temp is now near 32°C. Think I will really see it tomorrow. ½ WC and vaccum, redosing the salt every night. No little bodies seen yet lying on the ground. I cross my fingers.

 

[gerald]

That's common and normal for Ich to look like it's getting worse for a few days after beginning treatment, because it takes a few days for the newly-encysted "ich-lings" to get big enough to see. Remember it's only the invisible free-swimming stage that can be killed; those already burrowed under the skin must grow up and burst open before they can be killed - so yes the visible spots can increase even while the treatment is doing its job. If your rams can fight it off on their own with just heat and salt, I'm guessing they'll be more resistant to ich later on than if you treat with an anti-parasite drug.

 

[Boupette]

Still full of it but a little bit less today. The problem is that I don't see the end of it cos there are big spots and also very small spots, which make me think that there are newly-encysted, can it be? They still eat like pigs that a very good point. It doesn't take long but very long before I can see a real sign of recovery. This morning I added another 2 tbs of salt, they take it ok.

 

[Boupette]

Do you think it's getting any better after 5 days at 86°F for 6 days + salt for 5 days. Heat-tolerant strain you said!

 

[Boupette]

Now I can say it's getting really better. Temp is at 90°F since yesterday, big difference! Ohhhhhhhhhhh God!!!!!

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[gerald]

I hope that kills ALL the ich, because if it doesn't ... now we've got a 90°F tolerant strain !!
Fortunately the rams really don't look like they're bothered by it much.

 

[Boupette]

Not at all! I'm astounded! Still a few spots but tomorrow will surely be ok! 90°F is very high, I didn't thing they would have done it so small, really.

 

[Boupette]

I am always amazed by the strength to live of these small lives! The blue colors are coming out now!

 

[monisaab]

WoW... look great...

 

[Boupette]

All spots are gone now, it's about time! They will be ok, but I lost maybe 10 of them so it's not too bad I think.

What is the 1rst signs to sex those guys?
Thanks!