Ich on Clown loaches

[CrazieEddie]

I think I may have ich on some of my clown loaches. It's hard to tell, because I once thought I had ich before, but after getting a closer look it was actually just some minute bubbles sticking to them. This time, it looks as though it may be the real thing, but I'm still TRYING to get a closer look. They're just being shy about being observed up close.

I know I can't use any meds because of their sensitivity to them. I did apply some aquarium salt and also double dosed Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Stress Coat. I know clown loaches are sensitive to aquarium salt, but I have been applying it for over 8 months and it never seems to bother them. Besides, I place the salt in a small plastic cup cut with small slits using a exacto knife and hung it inside the tank just a few inches below the water line. This way the salt dilutes slowly into the tank. I used to just dump the salt in the tank, but after losing a few otocinclus, I decided to use the cup method. All the fish seem to do fine using this method.

After some observation, it appears that the ich maybe not spreading all over the loaches NOR has it spread throughout the tank. Unfortunately, I was not able to use my hospital tank since I'm currently using it for my new guppy fry. So I'm using the "Cross my fingers" method.

I am also not disturbing the tanks as much and leaving the lights off at a minimum of about 5 hours, to encourage the loaches to sleep more (lower their stress) and hopefully fight the ich. I am also slowly increasing the temp to about 80°F, currently at 78°F.

Anyway, I was wondering what people have done to cure their loaches with ich.

[Lucy]

Just a question - when I was researching a bit because of my recent ich problem, I saw mention of "scaleless" fish not doing well with the usual ich treatments. Is that why you can't treat your clown loaches? If so, I read somewhere that jungle makes an ich treatment especially for scaleless fish, if that helps at all.

[CrazieEddie]

I'm usually hesitant to apply any type of med, since they normally kill the bacteria, good or bad. Since my hospital tank is in use right now for my guppy fry, I will have to apply this to my whole tank, which will kill the nitrifying bacteria as well, Then I will have to start with day 1 of the cycle phase. Not good for community tank.

I have heard that since clown loaches are easily succeptable, other fish in the tank are not (as long as they are all healthy).

But it looks like my leaving the lights off more so they can rest method appears to work. There are less signs of ich on them.

**UPDATE***
It looks like my worries are almost over. There are 1 or 2 spots of 2 of the loaches, while the 3rd appears to have no sign of any ich. (WHEW)

I'm glad becuase the tank is due for it's scheduled cleaning. I didn't want to stress the loaches out with the cleaning, though I thing they are used to it, becuase sometimes they even approach the gravel vac during the cleanings. :D