Suspicious to Disease

Quarantine Word of the Day

Hi Steven,

Not to preach (of course you know that is what I am going to do), but this is why we quarantine (I would say everything) everybody no matter what the source, a minimum of two weeks. I like three to six weeks. I quarantine when moving between my own tanks.

That is behind us, we have a problem to deal with, do not wait to absolutely confirm Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, or “ich/ick”. Understanding and Treating Ich or White Spot is a nice site for basic explanation; remember though she is operating from an African Cichlid prospective.

I believe the safest treatment in your case is simply to raise the temperature one degree Celcius (1 or 2F) to 30 C (86F) and hold for 7-10 days, I think the article I pointed you to recommends 10 days. I have found 5 days to be sufficient but I always add to more days at minimum cause I am a coward, (explains my quarantine and sterilization policy as well).

The downside of this method is of course many mosses aren't going to like it and any cooler temperature fish won't either.

At the higher temperature you may need to provide more surface aggitation. A small air pump and stone will do just fine.

Good luck,

Biollante

 

I would not wait. If you wait for the fish to become heavily infested you are just making things that much harder for you and them. Raise the tank a degree or two and let it run. If you run it at that temp the life cycle on the ich will run its course and they will nearly all die off or at least be such a small number it's pretty much the same thing. Cardinals are sensitive to salt so you probably do not want to add any. I think ottos might be as well.

Do look into the QT tank. It doesn't have to be fancy and even a tupperware type storage bin will work fine. It just has to be non toxic and hold water for the few weeks or more. If you need to medicate it's much easier to do so. Also, I've found all my cardinals to be cowards. They're always in the plants. The only time they don't seem to do that is when I have a school of 20+ in which case they seem to be much braver.

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S

 

Lesson Paid For

Hi Steven,

You learned a lesson the hard way. You have paid for the lesson so move along.

Quarantine isn’t the big all consuming task many make it out to be, what shoggoth43 told you and what I told you is true and really quite simple, more of a habit than anything.

Now that you have a problem take steps before the lesson gets more expensive. Again what shoggoth43 said is correct. Cardinal Tetras and Ottos don’t like salt or for that matter many of the medicines.

Raising the temperature, begin now, is the safest easiest solution. Ten days is in fact more than enough, to break the cycle, ten days gives you some extra room, a margin for error.

Solutions do not have to be complicated or expensive to be effective.

Take care of this and we’ll talk if you wish.

Fish and plants want to live and grow; we tend to over complicate the process. Remember you do not have to understand all the science, or really any of it to be successful. Just as I don’t need to understand the science or technology of this computer, of the internet, communication systems, fiber optics or satellites to use this website, all I have to do is follow a few basic instructions and plunk away at some keys on a keyboard. (Some say I plunk away at random on the keyboard.)

Biollante

 

My black neons are very abusive towards the cardinals. I suspect you've got a couple males vying for top dog status. Unless it gets to the point of serious damage I wouldn't worry too much. You can also rearrange some of the plants to throw them all off and force them to figure out the new pecking order if it turns out to be a territorial thing.

Good luck!

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S

 

Hi Steven,

Disputes amongst cardinals is nothing to worry about. They will never do any damage other than MAYBE a nipped fin.

Even their territories are very small.

No need to rearrange the tank for it. It is a good thing to see, as it is an indicator of good health.

Cardinals do not always appreciate fast or bigger fish I have kept them for years with many different species, and they seem happiest alone or with pencils or some other very inocuous fish..

However, I kept them for years with rummy noses which are VERY quick with no issues lol.

My shoal is pretty much alone except for a few espei pencils and some sunset platies, and while they are out more, they still like the shelter/shade of the plant thickets.

I think as they are food fish in the wild, they are very aware of being prey...

 

Quarantine Forward

Hi Steven,

I recommend just leaving the Cardinals in the tank, they don't mind the temperature and since the tank is infected or presumed infected you may as well treat them all, no medications, just raised temperature.

Start the quarantine from now on, I even hold plants, I am not a fan of dips for plants as anything but a last resort, sometimes we find interesting extras.

I believe in sanitizing or sterilizing everything else if at all possible. I like as much control as possible over what is in my tanks.

I also agree with Gerry (well, of course) disputes among Cardinals are so common it would scare me if I didn't see them 'bargaining' with one another.

Biollante

 

Glad to help.

Keep us posted on your progress.

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S