Is this ich?

[justingraham]

Ah u live and learn. But the object is to learn. And I beleive it was Paul B who wrote this article about how it's only a hobby and u should have fun.

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/relax-have-fun-its-a-hobby-5280/

It's a good read in fact anything the guy writes is a good read look into him.
As for knowledge about this hobby this is the site it truly is. U have any questions run it by everyone first here before u do it so u can learn from other people's experiences and failures so u don't make the same mistake.
But in all seriousness there's no need to cry I'm sure ur husband isn't going anywhere in fact I bet he is going to be more then willing to help u and bring u guys even closer. Maby all this is just a blessing in disguise. It turns out to be flukes instead of ich and u learn an easy lesson. u and he hubby are now all close because of it (but not to close in front of the fishies don't wanna give them any bad ideas) and everything turns out for the best u know what I'm saying? Don't beat urself up over it it gets u know where. The only thing to do is just learn because that gets u everywhere.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Just to make sure I get this-there is no safe way to treat my mandarins as they need pods? So doing the hospital tank with the rest would not really work as intended because the mandys would still be in the DT. I feel I do most of the "management" stuff - I feed Hatchery Diet, Reef Frenzy, Fish Frenzy, Herbivore Frenzy, Mysis, Nori a few times a week, everything gets soaked in Selcon...I do 20-30 gal water changes every Sunday. I could add a UV sterilizer...

But remember it has not yet been confirmed this is even ich.[/QUOTE]
Lol now you sound like my hubby...I tend to be that person that if I see something wrong I panic first. The other night I saw my mandys were all white...complete meltdown until I googled it and found that is normal for them at night. I really like your write ups btw, super simplified and concise. They are perfect for someone like me!

 

[Humblefish]

Just to make sure I get this-there is no safe way to treat my mandarins as they need pods? So doing the hospital tank with the rest would not really work as intended because the mandys would still be in the DT. I feel I do most of the "management" stuff - I feed Hatchery Diet, Reef Frenzy, Fish Frenzy, Herbivore Frenzy, Mysis, Nori a few times a week, everything gets soaked in Selcon...I do 20-30 gal water changes every Sunday. I could add a UV sterilizer...

It's possible to get a pod only eating mandarin thru TTM, and I QT'd my pair using Chloroquine phosphate for 6 weeks. But that was back when you could buy Nutramar ova, which most wild caught mandarins would eat. But to go 76 days without pods would be next to impossible unless you were able to ween them onto frozen or pellets beforehand.

Thanks for the compliment BTW.

 

[melypr1985]

I tend to be that person that if I see something wrong I panic first.

that's one of the worst things to do in this hobby. Maybe the tank will help you with that. I used to be the same way and would rush into things I thought would fix a problem only to make it worse. Now I try to be calm and collected, get the info I need first, research said info to be sure it's not bogus, then make a plan to use that info. Take things a step at a time. For now, lets wait and see if this is actually ick. It looked more like lymph to me, but it could easily be either one.

About getting the mandys through TTM. You could always buy pods to feed them during the fallow period and TTM. It might be a little more expensive than you planned for, but it would be short term. I believe you could even have a culture of them in a 5 gallon bucket for daily feedings.

 

[domination2580]

To be honest I'm not sure if I would worry too much of the mandarins. Like I said they have very heavy slime coat. Most of the time the ich parasite can't even penetrate the slime coat rendering it useless to even try

 

[domination2580]

Granted there is still a possibility they could but it's very low on my perspective

 

[melypr1985]

To be honest I'm not sure if I would worry too much of the mandarins. Like I said they have very heavy slime coat. Most of the time the ich parasite can't even penetrate the slime coat rendering it useless to even try

The problem is that they still need to be removed for an effective fallow period. They can be carriers so they have to be in QT during that time. Feeding them might be a pain while this is going on, but it's possible. No reason not to do it right ya know?

 

[domination2580]

But if the tank is fallow with only the mandarins, the tromphats wouldn't be able to feed off the mandarins and would die off anyway. Because they wouldn't have a host to feed off of

 

[melypr1985]

But if the tank is fallow with only the mandarins, the tromphats wouldn't be able to feed off the mandarins and would die off anyway. Because they wouldn't have a host to feed off of

The mandarins aren't immune to them. They can get it, it's just difficult. I, myself have had a mandarin with a bad case of ick die from it. It only takes one to latch into the gills to continue the life cycle. They have to be removed for a proper fallow period. The tank isn't fallow if even one fish is left in it.

 

[domination2580]

Very true didn't think about the gills. I apologize I am correct only half.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

that's one of the worst things to do in this hobby. Maybe the tank will help you with that. I used to be the same way and would rush into things I thought would fix a problem only to make it worse. Now I try to be calm and collected, get the info I need first, research said info to be sure it's not bogus, then make a plan to use that info. Take things a step at a time. For now, lets wait and see if this is actually ick. It looked more like lymph to me, but it could easily be either one.

About getting the mandys through TTM. You could always buy pods to feed them during the fallow period and TTM. It might be a little more expensive than you planned for, but it would be short term. I believe you could even have a culture of them in a 5 gallon bucket for daily feedings.

I am a very anxious critter! The tank is supposed to help with stress from work lol Most days it works wonders! Thanks for the advice, I have been reading up on some of your QT post tonight as well!

 

[domination2580]

Or get like a mesh media bag, buy a porous sponge and accumulate a pod population on the sponge the best u can to have a control on how many pods are eaten from the sysetm

 

[melypr1985]

The tank is supposed to help with stress from work ****

It will help relieve stress if you let it. Look at every thing that goes wrong as a chance to learn something new instead of looking at it as a disaster. I have a friend here that will hyperventilate (I mean literally) over the smallest problem. She's just a very sensitive person and loves every single creature in her care so much that it hurts her to lose anything. I've had to sit her down and explain that "losses will happen, things will go wrong, but we can always learn something from it and keep it from happening again" That seemed to help and she's getting much better about not freaking out too much. She's learning quite a bit as well!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

that's one of the worst things to do in this hobby. Maybe the tank will help you with that. I used to be the same way and would rush into things I thought would fix a problem only to make it worse. Now I try to be calm and collected, get the info I need first, research said info to be sure it's not bogus, then make a plan to use that info. Take things a step at a time. For now, lets wait and see if this is actually ick. It looked more like lymph to me, but it could easily be either one.

About getting the mandys through TTM. You could always buy pods to feed them during the fallow period and TTM. It might be a little more expensive than you planned for, but it would be short term. I believe you could even have a culture of them in a 5 gallon bucket for daily feedings.

I forgot about TTM...I could do that with the mandarins and do copper for everyone else. I see some tanks in my future...IF it is ich...I just have to prepare for all possibilities!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

It will help relieve stress if you let it. Look at every thing that goes wrong as a chance to learn something new instead of looking at it as a disaster. I have a friend here that will hyperventilate (I mean literally) over the smallest problem. She's just a very sensitive person and loves every single creature in her care so much that it hurts her to lose anything. I've had to sit her down and explain that "losses will happen, things will go wrong, but we can always learn something from it and keep it from happening again" That seemed to help and she's getting much better about not freaking out too much. She's learning quite a bit as well!

I think I should hang out with you too! Letting a critter die is not in my nature either. It is a struggle.

 

[Humblefish]

It only takes one to latch into the gills to continue the life cycle.

^^This. Free swimming theronts have a difficult time penetrating thru a mandarin's thick mucous coat. The same holds true for clownfish, wrasses and a few other species. But invariably at least one or two will latch on and feed inside the gills, where the slime coat is thinner. No big deal until you put the rest of the fish back in (especially that tang), and the parasites "feeding ground" has just been increased to include multiple hosts. As a result, ich's numbers increase exponentially.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

^^This. Free swimming theronts have a difficult time penetrating thru a mandarin's thick mucous coat. The same holds true for clownfish, wrasses and a few other species. But invariably at least one or two will latch on and feed inside the gills, where the slime coat is thinner. No big deal until you put the rest of the fish back in (especially that tang), and the parasites "feeding ground" has just been increased to include multiple hosts. As a result, ich's numbers increase exponentially.

Ok H.F...so if I have Ick I am strongly considering TTM just so I can get all the fish taken care of without worrying about the mandarins. It seems like that is my best bet, I don't think I can do the management thing - knowing it is there bugging my fish, just waiting to strike! So I can do all the transfers out of large storage tubs with minimal equipment from what I read in your threads, which sounds less intimidating than 3-4 tanks set up! For my NEW QT tank with all the fish I have what size would you think/recommend to work best to keep them in the remainder of the 72 days? My Anthias and Midas are by far my biggest fish, about 4-5 inches, oh and my female clown. I don't know if a 29 gal would be enough - I am looking at some of the plug-and-play set ups that come with everything so I can get going asap, if it is not ich, well then I am ready to QT any and ALL new additions! Thank you again so much for all your help!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Ah u live and learn. But the object is to learn. And I beleive it was Paul B who wrote this article about how it's only a hobby and u should have fun.

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/relax-have-fun-its-a-hobby-5280/

It's a good read in fact anything the guy writes is a good read look into him.
As for knowledge about this hobby this is the site it truly is. U have any questions run it by everyone first here before u do it so u can learn from other people's experiences and failures so u don't make the same mistake.
But in all seriousness there's no need to cry I'm sure ur husband isn't going anywhere in fact I bet he is going to be more then willing to help u and bring u guys even closer. Maby all this is just a blessing in disguise. It turns out to be flukes instead of ich and u learn an easy lesson. u and he hubby are now all close because of it (but not to close in front of the fishies don't wanna give them any bad ideas) and everything turns out for the best u know what I'm saying? Don't beat urself up over it it gets u know where. The only thing to do is just learn because that gets u everywhere.

This was a great little article! Thank you for sharing this, I am not sure I am quite ready to move from "disaster" to "experience" but I am definitely learning! I am feeling much better today, less defeated lol and no my hubby wont divorce me (I don't think haha) he just has a hard time understanding why I have to do all the most difficult things, I think he would be happy if I was into shoes or clothes!

 

[Humblefish]

@Leslie Tabor Because of the large anthias and Tomini Tang, I would feel more comfortable if you used a 40 breeder for that bioload. I believe Petco is still running their $ per gallon sale, so we are only talking another $11. In addition to the "usual equipment" (heater, thermometer, small powerhead), you will also need a large HOB with bio-media capable of housing nitrifying bacteria. An Aquaclear 70 (or even 110) would be an excellent choice for that size QT. Also pickup one of those "bacteria in a bottle" products to seed it with. Examples: Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Now I have my shopping list...after work the QT set up starts!