Is this ich?

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

I am so sorry, I have never had fish before so I am not overly confident especially with disease.

The pectoral fin and just above under the dosal fin are the only spots I see. Just noticed them today. No new fish for 3 weeks.

Thank you in advance...

Humblefish · Jul 31, 2016

Looks like ich to me, but it's also possible what's on the pectoral fin could be Lympho. But the dots on the body do look like ich.

Here's how you tell for sure: If this is ich, the dots will disappear in 3-7 days. If it's Lympho, they will continue to grow in size.

Also be sure this is not just sand on the fish. Sand will appear to be on top of the skin and will dangle if blown by the flow.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

Oh boy. Well after some reading I am not sure which I am more afraid of! Ugh...guess I wait to see...

4FordFamily · Jul 31, 2016

I agree with humble. On my phone it's even harder to tell. Lympho is harmless largely I wouldn't worry about that.

If you didn't qt properly then there's about a 90% chance it's ich.

domination2580 · Jul 31, 2016

I agree with humble. Looks like ich but I'd rather Id it to be sure.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

So plan of attack: watch the 3-7 days. If the spots disappear do I just assume ich and go right to hospital tank? Or do I wait and see if any other issues? I want the best chance to save my fish.

If I am going hospital tank: all fish go into hospital tank for hyposalinization. 8 weeks+, DT tank goes fallow then after the 8 weeks anyone left alive can go back into the DT. Am I missing anything to this?

domination2580 · Jul 31, 2016

Yes, if they disappear them I'd assume ich. You will have to leave tank fallow for 76 days and qt all fish. Humble and I do not like hypo. I would suggest copper or cp.

Humblefish · Jul 31, 2016

Leslie Tabor said:
So plan of attack: watch the 3-7 days. If the spots disappear do I just assume ich and go right to hospital tank? Or do I wait and see if any other issues? I want the best chance to save my fish.

How many fish do you have in your DT? List them all please.

Leslie Tabor said:
If I am going hospital tank: all fish go into hospital tank for hyposalinization. 8 weeks+, DT tank goes fallow then after the 8 weeks anyone left alive can go back into the DT. Am I missing anything to this?

If this turns out to be ich, ALL your fish will need to be treated & QT'd. There are options other than hypo for treating ich, listed here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/

The DT itself should be left fallow for 76 days.

justingraham · Jul 31, 2016

domination2580 said:
Yes, if they disappear them I'd assume ich. You will have to leave tank fallow for 76 days and qt all fish. Humble and I do not like hypo. I would suggest copper or cp.

Copper worked for me and ten hours later I could see a diffrence with my fish. I was against copper for some reason and wanted to do hypo I'm guessing cause it is poisonous. But copper if not used recklessly (get a test kit) is a fish saver. Best of luck with ur fish.

domination2580 · Jul 31, 2016

Just to keep in mind, if you have a mandarin DO NOT qt them. They have a thick slime coat that ich can't penetrate easily and copper will harm them

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

Humblefish said:
How many fish do you have in your DT? List them all please.

2 Ocellaris clowns
2 Bangai Cardinals
2 Lyretail Anthias
1 Midas Blenny
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Neon Goby
1 Tomini Tang
1 Engineer Goby
2 Mandarin Dragonets

That is everybody...have no idea how I will catch the Engineer Goby...

domination2580 · Jul 31, 2016

Really glad I wrote the last post about the mandarins lol.

Humblefish · Jul 31, 2016

The good news is most of those fish are good candidates for copper treatment. The bad news is your mandarins ARE NOT. Do the mandys eat frozen/pellets or pods only?

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

domination2580 said:
Really glad I wrote the last post about the mandarins lol.

If I hurt my mandarins I think I would quit. I LOVE them.

domination2580 · Jul 31, 2016

Leslie Tabor said:
If I hurt my mandarins I think I would quit. I LOVE them.

Absolutely agree. I love mine as well. I'm going to try to breed mine. Just have to get another male.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

Humblefish said:
The good news is most of those fish are good candidates for copper treatment. The bad news is your mandarins ARE NOT. Do the mandys eat frozen/pellets or pods only?

They supposedly eat frozen but I only see them eating pods. I stocked my tank for MONTHS with pods before I got them, which apparently is counter productive. I appreciate all your help humblefish...this is the first real issue I have had...I wanna throw up.

justingraham · Jul 31, 2016

Leslie Tabor said:
They supposedly eat frozen but I only see them eating pods. I stocked my tank for MONTHS with pods before I got them, which apparently is counter productive. I appreciate all your help humblefish...this is the first real issue I have had...I wanna throw up.

I understand the way u are feeling right now. I do but it is not the end of the world it can still be flukes and not Ich. Have faith that everything will be ok u did the hardest thing U asked for help so take a deep breath and relax. Most of us have been where u are and let me tell u something u are on the best website for this kinda stuff everyone here is going to help u as long as ur willing to help urself and I beleive u are trying. These guys and girls know what they are doing and will help u get through this and help u figure out answers to all ur problems. U got this.

Humblefish · Jul 31, 2016

Considering how much you love your mandarins, this may be an option for you to consider: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.188775/

But remember it has not yet been confirmed this is even ich.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 31, 2016

justingraham said:
I understand the way u are feeling right now. I do but it is not the end of the world it can still be flukes and not Ich. Have faith that everything will be ok u did the hardest thing U asked for help so take a deep breath and relax. Most of us have been where u are and let me tell u something u are on the best website for this kinda stuff everyone here is going to help u as long as ur willing to help urself and I beleive u are trying. These guys and girls know what they are doing and will help u get through this and help u figure out answers to all ur problems. U got this.

Thank you! I am sitting here tearing up! This forum is my only access to real info/help. I have no LFS that is not 2 hours away, I dont have any other friends in the hobby...other than you guys! My husband and I fought over a second tank for QT forever and I caved because I wanted my tank and took some not brillant advice from a "fish guy" that supported my foregoing a QT. I feel really dumb for not doing something so simple to prevent this. I may end up divorced over this fish tank yet! Haha

4FordFamily · Jul 31, 2016

Leslie Tabor said:
Thank you! I am sitting here tearing up! This forum is my only access to real info/help. I have no LFS that is not 2 hours away, I dont have any other friends in the hobby...other than you guys! My husband and I fought over a second tank for QT forever and I caved because I wanted my tank and took some not brillant advice from a "fish guy" that supported my foregoing a QT. I feel really dumb for not doing something so simple to prevent this. I may end up divorced over this fish tank yet! Haha

Aww no tank is worth a marriage (waiting for my wife to stop looking over my shoulder

)