Regal Tang with Ich

Castle · 04-03-2007, 01:13 PM

I was warned by a couple of you to keep an eye on her. I want to say thanks because I have been keeping a watch and last night I noticed she was rubbing against a piece of LR. Then she turned and I noticed some white spots on her right side just behind her eye and her right eye is also cloudy.

I wasn't able to get any pictures of her.

I am picking up a bottle of Kick Ich by Ruby Reef after work today and I'm going to treat the main tank, in the event my Midas has contracted it.

Anyone have any experience with Kick Ich? It is reef safe and shouldn't harm my 3 corals...at least that's what it says.

I'll keep everyone updated. I just hopes she makes it through the end of the day. It would suck to have only had her 3 days.

Tommy Gun · 04-03-2007, 01:46 PM

I have not used Kick Ich in any of my tanks, FW or SW...and to be honest, I havent heard of anyone using that particular product either so far. That is not to say it isnt good, but I just havent crossed it yet.

However, a couple months ago I brought home a Regal tang and a Bannerfish that I bought off of a trusted friend. Both of the fish were in a display tank and not for sale, nor had the tank been used to house any fish that were for sale, so this tank was pretty much quarantined from possible Ich exposure from that type of thing. Anyways, I brought them home and about a week later, the bannerfish had a lot of little white spots on it. I went looking for the best way to cure this, but in a way that wouldnt put my other fish or corals in jeopardy. The advice that I got, besides quarantine (which I couldnt do very easily because I had other fish being treated for different problems at the time, was to add UV to the tank. So, I finally got one on my tank and the Ich never progressed any further afterwards...meaning that the bannerfish did not get many, if any, more white spots on it, and no other fish in the tank, including the tang, showed any white spots either. I also added a cleaner shrimp, which I could almost constantly watch working on various fish almost 24/7. A couple of weeks later, the spots were virtually gone ...short of some scarring from them left on the bannerfish, and I never had any further Ich issues. I kept that UV on the tank for about two more months and then took it off because I needed it on another tank (Freshwater). I havent had any Ich in the tank. So, in conclusion, I am pretty convinced that UV can play a large part in Ich treatments, even though I know many people are skeptical. Of course, my experience may be different from others, but I think that it is at least an easy way to add a bit of security for a saltwater tank. The thing to keep in mind that that the rate of water flow through the UV is important. Usually, there are three or four 'settings' that can be used...well, not settings, but recommended flow rates... So, the slower the rate of flow, and hence, the more time the water is exposed to the UV light, the more it can kill. I believe that the recomended slowest rate is the best for Ich treatments...but you still want to have at least one or two times the tank's entire water volume to flow through it in an hour. Drs. Foster and Smith has some pretty reasonably priced UV systems. I have the turbo-twist 9 watt version on my tank.

Castle · 04-03-2007, 02:14 PM

Thanks Tommy.

I'm going to chat with the folks at the LFS store today about Kick Ich and see what they say. It's the same shop that I've purchased all my LR, corals & fish from so I've been able to get to know quite a few of the associates.

I've thought about UV, but I think I need a quicker fix. She really wasn't looking too good last night.

Nereaga · 04-03-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castle

Thanks Tommy.

I'm going to chat with the folks at the LFS store today about Kick Ich and see what they say. It's the same shop that I've purchased all my LR, corals & fish from so I've been able to get to know quite a few of the associates.

I've thought about UV, but I think I need a quicker fix. She really wasn't looking too good last night.

Invest in some Ich Attack by Kordon. Everyone as of recently has had a good amount of success ridding their tank and fish. I am currently on day 3 of treatment with Ich Attack and my beauty I bought has 2 spots left out of like 15-20. Im not saying this stuff works miracles. But since I first dosed my tank, the next day I noticed less white spots.

That could have been her getting better. On the bottle it says treat for a week. and treat at least 3-4 days after the last spots clear. Then perform a 20% water change.

Achilles · 04-03-2007, 06:30 PM

Ive used kick ick before, my bubble coral didnt like it but it recovered. I didnt have many other corals at the time i used it, but if you can remove her to a Hospital tank it would of course be best, but i think it says its reef safe. It worked good for me by the way. Good luck
Todd

Castle · 04-03-2007, 07:37 PM

Good feedback guys...thanks!

I picked up a bottle of Kick Ich, but I haven't used it yet. Also picked up some Kent Marine Garlic and did a feeding tonight about 2 hours ago with some frozen stuff soaked in the garlic along with a small piece of seaweed with a couple drops on it, too. Both the tang and blenny ate without hesitation and both seemed to have a great appetite.

So I'm going to do small daily feedings with garlic and hold off on the Kick Ich and see how things go. I'm going to give her a couple days and see if she can recover on her own.

And I was advised not to use the garlic on my pizza.

Achilles · 04-03-2007, 11:30 PM

Great idea, and as long as there eating well, and acting good. Watch for them scratching against the rocks, if they start tht, i would go ahead and use the Kick Ick. Otherwise by boosting there immune system they may just fight it off there selfs. Good luck Oh yea have you noticed any on your blenny?? Ive personally never sen a Blenny with Ick? Most likely have a much thicker slime coat? Not sure though. ok sorry, got side tracked there!!
Todd

Castle · 04-04-2007, 08:14 AM

I have not noticed any Ich on the Blenny, thank goodness. And I think he's feeling pretty good and acclimating well to the tank/environment because when I was sitting in front of the tank last night, he was right up against the glass looking back at me.

Castle · 04-06-2007, 05:54 PM

A quick update, after 3 daily feedings of frozen food with Kent's Garlic, the tang is still eating well and it looks as though the 6 - 8 spots are now down to just a couple, maybe 3. Plus, her eye has really cleared up and is looking 100% better.

I never used the Kick Ich and I'm glad that I didn't.

Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like we'll be back to normal and ich free in the next couple days.

Nereaga · 04-06-2007, 08:10 PM

Congrats on saving your fishy!!!! YEAH!