First, thank you everyone for your support and kind words regarding Taco's passing. It's really weird having just Tian-Tian around, but I suppose I'll get used to it eventually.
Meanwhile, Tian-Tian still has a recurring case of hardcore ich. I've done daily water changes, kept the temperature constant, tried warming him up, I've quarantined him and bleached his tank, I've treated him with Jungle Ick Clear and the darn ich STILL hasn't gone away!!!
But now I know why.
I took a quick spin over to my LFS this morning. Since I've been a bit of a regular over there, they were more than happy to help me out. I talked to "Dr. Fish" and explained to him Tian-Tian's mysterious case of ich.
As it turns out, Tian-Tian's recurring ich is not for my lack of trying. Apparently there's a certain bacteria in my water supply (yes, the very same water I drink from) that older fish, like Tian-Tian, are susceptible to. In older fish, this bacteria can cause ich. So for all of my water changes and everything else I've done, it's something I can't really get rid of 'cause the darn bacteria is in my water supply.
Baffling, isn't it? Thoughts, anyone?
I picked up an intense ich medicine with Formalin and Malachite Green to at least alleviate some of the symptoms (as recommended by "Dr. Fish... who has been keeping fish for 40 years, by the way).
Tian-Tian has been doing all right, but I think he's mad at me 'cause I've left him in a bare tank. :lol: I bought him a new plant today while I was there to replace the one I had to throw away. I might put it in tomorrow, or in a few days. We'll see.
I also looked at the current shipment of Bettas... thinking about getting another Betta.... but it's too soon just yet. Too soon. (And besides, I've got to move Tian-Tian back to my dorm in 5 days).
Long update was long. Whew.
Meanwhile, Tian-Tian still has a recurring case of hardcore ich. I've done daily water changes, kept the temperature constant, tried warming him up, I've quarantined him and bleached his tank, I've treated him with Jungle Ick Clear and the darn ich STILL hasn't gone away!!!
But now I know why.
I took a quick spin over to my LFS this morning. Since I've been a bit of a regular over there, they were more than happy to help me out. I talked to "Dr. Fish" and explained to him Tian-Tian's mysterious case of ich.
As it turns out, Tian-Tian's recurring ich is not for my lack of trying. Apparently there's a certain bacteria in my water supply (yes, the very same water I drink from) that older fish, like Tian-Tian, are susceptible to. In older fish, this bacteria can cause ich. So for all of my water changes and everything else I've done, it's something I can't really get rid of 'cause the darn bacteria is in my water supply.
Baffling, isn't it? Thoughts, anyone?
I picked up an intense ich medicine with Formalin and Malachite Green to at least alleviate some of the symptoms (as recommended by "Dr. Fish... who has been keeping fish for 40 years, by the way).
Tian-Tian has been doing all right, but I think he's mad at me 'cause I've left him in a bare tank. :lol: I bought him a new plant today while I was there to replace the one I had to throw away. I might put it in tomorrow, or in a few days. We'll see.
I also looked at the current shipment of Bettas... thinking about getting another Betta.... but it's too soon just yet. Too soon. (And besides, I've got to move Tian-Tian back to my dorm in 5 days).
Long update was long. Whew.