what are its chances?

SunnyDelight · 09-14-2008, 09:32 PM

hi all, firstly i'd like to introduce myself... like so many i only join the forum when i start to have problems lol
i've been a fish enthusiast for a while, but i started slow... with a beta i've had for about 2 years now.
i got a 20g f/w tank about 3 months ago and all was well for a while. the tank is in my dorm room with me at college and i went home for the weekend. i came back and most of my fish were already dead. the dreaded ich. i have a dwarf gourami left that is showing pretty advanced signs. its lethargic (though still eating) and rubbing on anything solid. i have started to gradually up the temp (about a f degree every 12 hours) and am slowly adding an increased salt solution.
i'm just wondering what its chances of recovery are?

gregpape23 · 09-14-2008, 09:46 PM

Thats a tough question, how badly does he have it? And how long has the tank had it?
Oh, and welcome to FTF, best fish forum around.

SunnyDelight · 09-15-2008, 09:13 PM

well i'm not sure how long the tank has had it, but long enough obviously to kill the majority of my fish (i only had 2 left when i got back from the weekend). last night it was laying on the bottom of the tank "gasping", but still made a valiant effort to eat. i've been slowly adding a salt solution and the tank is now almost at 86 degrees. this morning he was swimming around the tank and is generally more active. i didn't think he'd last the night.

RJRofFL · 09-16-2008, 01:10 PM

Hello Sunnydelight, and welcome to FTF, although I wish it were under different circumstances.

I might be grasping at straws here, but I can only suggest a few things. I do know that elevated temps (although necessary here) often does deplete oxygen somewhat, so perhaps you could lower your water level a little (1" or so) to create a little "splash" to add oxygen.
Although it has been disputed, I've heard it suggested to keep the tank in the dark. The alleged reasoning is that the "free swimming" parasites find it harder to find a host in the dark, but I don't totally believe that. However, the dark can somewhat relieve "stress" to the fish. It can't hurt. And most definitely continue the salt treatment.
Ich is cureable, and I hope this helps somewhat.

Best of luck.

Bob

SunnyDelight · 09-16-2008, 07:51 PM

thanks for your reply bob

the white spots are starting to disappear on my gourami, and its no longer scratching on the rocks; my rainbow sharks are as yet not showing any signs of the disease. i have an air bubbler in my tank so i'm not too worried about O2 depletion

RJRofFL · 09-16-2008, 09:08 PM

Hey SunnyDelight,

Sounds as if you are on top of it. Great.
Just remember to continue the treatment even though they are improving. And even after it appears to be gone. The biggest mistake most folks make is stopping the treatment too soon.

Sounds encouraging, and I'm rooting for you and the finned guys both.

Bob

SunnyDelight · 09-17-2008, 12:18 PM

for sure, i plan on keeping the temp up for 2 to 3 weeks and not doing a wc at all for that same amount of time to keep the saline content up. after that ill do a 25% change every couple weeks or so. i didn't have any salt in my tank before this, so i'm unsure as to what the normal is

SunnyDelight · 10-27-2008, 05:54 PM

update:

although i did end up losing the gourami in question, my tank is now happy and ich free!

Judge · 10-27-2008, 06:40 PM

HI Sunny D sorry about the Gourami but thanks for the update. Pictures are always a plus, we enjoy seeing the tanks of other aquarists. Glad your here, FTF is a great site full of very friendly and helpful folks.