Loaches and Ich

[Stella]

Two of my mudfish have died. Technically they are Massey University mudfish and I feel so bad I haven't yet told them about the second one... Not sure if any others have died....

Ok, I ask about loaches because like mudfish they have no scales and are apparently very sensitive to malachite and formalin. I suspect this is what killed the muddies.

Please can someone tell me what happens to loaches if they are malchite and formalined?

I know some say to use half-dose on loaches. What other meds are recommended for loaches instead of mal/form?

A friend used Melafix successfully against ich on mudfish. Would you use this on loaches?

I really appreciate any info people can give on this topic!

[becc4]

Hey Stella....bummer about the mudfish. I treated one of my bigger loaches last night who was clamping its fin with a slight brush of ich. I used double the recommended dose of Wunder Tonic (methylene, malachite green, acriflavine, quinine) but only kept the fish in there for a couple of hours. It's back to usual self now racing around the tank with the other 3 loaches

[mumzy50]

Hi my loaches had itch.Like you i was worried. I was told tonic salt and raise temp to thirty c every day water changes vaccum bottem tank. salt was one table spoon to 20l, i done this for four weeks.Loaches handle salt ok.With every water change i replaced salt.There might be an easer way keep watching.If you have problem go back over old pages. some times its helpful good luck

[Scuba Sam]

I used Wunder tonic, a little under half strength, and loaches remained healthy and happy throughout treatment and since - actually only did one dose, which I know means there might be more spores in the tank, but no problems in last three months.

Sorry to hear about your fish...

[Stella]

Been doing some research and thinking.

Apparently formalin increases the mucus coating, including on the gills which can lead to asphyxiation. I suspect this plus internal poisoning killed the mudfish (three out of five).

The remaining two have been doing a mudfish version of air-gulping since being taken out of the meds, just under a week ago. Possibly their gills have been damaged or it just takes a long time for the mucus to dissipate. They are slowly looking a little better. Not out of the woods yet.

I keep seeing people saying to use the meds at half dose for loaches. The thing is, if half-dose was a reliable way of treating ich, why does full dose exist?

Becc4: Ich is only killable during the (invisible) free swimming stage, not when it is visible on the fish. The visible stage is indestructible. This is why it is so important to keep treating for a while after the visible parasites have fallen off. If a fish actually has ich, doing a brief bath in meds will not do anything.

I shall have to look into this Wunder Tonic next, thanks.

[Simian]

Hmm here's an idea Stella inregards to mud fish and ich.

I know they are very vulnerable to it like most other scaleless fish but I do wonder if you could take advantage of their natural advantages.

A. they can absorb O2 through their skin? and are designed to absorb it through a thick mucus layer when they are dormant so maybe formalin isnt the problem?

B They (I forget the proper term Hibernate will do), perhaps taking them out of the water and putting them in some wet Sphagnum moss will actually help them get though the tough spot until the cysts burst (prob about a week in your temp range) give em a quick rinse and put em back in their (now well cleaned) home

I may be way off the mark and its prob not a gamble you would like to take.