Recently I bought two oscars one a kind of goldfish type color the other black with kind of a orangish circular patterns on him(Pinky & Brain). Anyway the gold one developed ick, I treated the tank with a product called Quick Cure(Formalin and Malachite Green)(turns the water blue)well the gold one(Pinky) seemed to be doing ok. Then the black one(Brain) developed ick and died:(. So I went and got another and he(Brain 2)has got the ick, meanwhile Pinky is still doing good, Both have a healthy appitite. Nitrite, nitrate, and PH all look good. What can I do, please help.

Well, I am in the position where I have never had an outbreak of this disease (touch wood) however, what you have got to realise is once you see the white spots, the parasites are immune to medication. Some the else came to me not long ago and I advise them to turn the temperature of the water up to around 30°C, slightly higher (don't worry, the fish will be okay) leave it like this for around three days. It worked with their fish, the white spot disappeared (that is what we call ick in this country, UK) what this does is it speeds up the life cycle of the parasite.

thanks for the advise I already keep the tank at 80 ferinhiet, 30c is about 86f is that right. I have my heater up all the way now you think maybe putting some plastic over the top to keep heat from escaping may work, or maybe turning the light on, its a Coralife Actinic, actinic 03 f40-t12-bp, I have two of them. Puts off kind of a blacklite look. I've been keeping them off because they seem to promote the algy spores growth. Water getts cloudy real fast

No, I wouldn't advise covering your tank over with anything. I have just added a new article to the website. It is a first-class article with some really good advice. I don't think you'll get any better advice anywhere else.

www.oscarfishlover.com/index.php?option=...37&Itemid=96

Thanks for finding and posting the new artical on ick treatment. It has put me on the right track and eased my mind about possibly giving the wrong meds. I'll let you know in 10-15 days how Pinky and Brain are doing. Thanks again Dude I knew I could count on you;)

Thanks, that is what we are here for. Can't always promised to give the right answers, but we will try

casprsoscars wrote:


Let me just make one small suggestion.
Should you lose any more fish to ich, don't rush out and buy a replacement fish. Cure the fish you have left first and then wait a good week before restocking the aquarium. (In case you didn't realize it, ICH is contageous!)

Adding fish raises the stress level for your fish and exposes your new fish to the existing problems within your aquarium.

Well today is day 10 and Pinky and Brain are doing well no more ick spots on them and they haven't come back either. I really think I got Elmoe's brother over here, Brain is an absolute Pig

Glad to hear that your fish have recovered