It sounds like you are doing everything you can, clean water and meds. I'm glad he's almost back to normal.

 

I hope he's okay.

Here's what I just did:

After letting the Jungle sit in his tank since 6:10pm (it's 7:11 now), I did 100% water change... and turned the whole tank into a minimalist's dream:

I took out all of the marbles, except for a few pieces that I washed thoroughly with hot water. I washed his castle and his plastic grass plant (no soap, folks!). I then put the castle in the center, using the plant as a sort of "flora" decor, and left the bottom of the tank bare with nothing else except for my few marbles and rocks.

Why: I remembered reading somewhere on the web (probably here) that ich reproduces in GRAVEL. So, I figured the re-infections were happening because of the marbles. So by leaving the bottom mostly bare, I believe I might break the cycle and bring Tian-Tians tank to normal. Also, aquarium salt= WIN.

Also, after doing the change, I noticed his water felt cooler to the touch. I'm gonna check the temp on that sucker in a bit and decide if I'm gonna put the heater back in.

Come on, Tian-Tian!!

 

Okay, now Tian-Tian's just SITTING in his castle, and even leaning over to one side! I'm really worried! I know my boy is quite an old fellow... but is it his time? He's been eating otherwise normally. Both he and Taco have the same rations of regular feedings and treats... but Taco is fine, so I know it's not Tian-Tian's diet.

Ah, Tian-Tian is either sitting at the bottom of his tank or propped near the surface in his plant.

All right... he's swimming a bit now... and back to his plant. And sitting. He's not even flinching.
Oh man, I am so freaking out; I don't know what else to do for him. The water temp's back to normal, so what do I do now? I don't see the ich on him; maybe the aquarium salt helped with that, at least?
What else can I do? :-(

 

HOLY TAP-DANCING MOSES ON BUTTERED TOAST.

So I shone a light on my boy and it turns out the ich spread much further than I initially thought. It's all over his body. Hasn't touched his fins, yet... let's hope it doesn't get that far. :-(

Have I done all I can for him? He's still sitting and acting very listless.

 

Try some Jungle Ick Guard or Maracide. Those are meds for ick.

 

Oh ick can live on marbles?? I did take them outta Randys tank when I started to treat him though. They have been out for awhile,so it should be gone I hope. I hope Tian-Tian gets better. Ick is very nasty.

 

I'm a bit short on cash at the moment, but thanks for the suggestion, dramaqueen.

Yep, ich seems to reproduce in gravel, which is why it can be so hard to get out of a tank. I only just discovered this; I'm slow, but brilliant.

In other news, Tian-Tian has made a few attempts to swim around his tank and act normal, but then he goes right back to resting. It's almost like watching an old man go for a light jog, then head straight for a nap when he's done. Poor thing.

I guess I'll just have to see how he's doing in the morning. Should I fast him? And if so, how long?

 

Maybe a couple days. Thats what Randy did.

 

I hope Tian Tian gets better!

 

I used Wardleys Ich Meds and it's awesome! About $3 at Walmart. Get it. I think it will do him good. I know you might be short on money, but hey when I bought it for Fishy I paid in change. Its worth it.

 

THanks, Vikki. Maybe if he's no better tomorrow I'll see if I can find some. If not, I might just go to my local fish store (where I bought Taco from) and see if I can't get some help there.

Tian-Tian hasn't changed a whole lot. Still making efforts to swim normally, then resting for long periods of time. I'll fast him for tonight and see how he's doing in the morning.

Thanks for the well-wishes and advice, everyone. Let's hope he pulls through.

 

Well, no change in his state today. Just the same as he was last night. I think I'll fast him his morning meal and decide if I'll fast him for evening when the time comes.

He's flaring normally at Taco (when I remove the visual divider between the two tanks) so I know he has some fight left in him, yet!

 

help? i think something is wrong.

sorry wrong thing.

 

sorry i posted mine on this...

 

That's okay.

Still no change on Tian-Tian... hmmm.... this is really a mystery to me.

 

Hee, I feel silly writing on my own post by myself, but I feel I should at least document everything I've tried to do.

So I just put Tian-Tian's submersible heater into the tank. Since it's really hot here in summer I haven't felt the need to keep it in the tank until now. I am convinced that, since Tian-Tian is sick, his immune system is making him think he's cold and so he huddles at the bottom of his tank.

I'm hoping, too, that the heater will help kill off the remaining ich in the tank.

Question: Should I cover the heating pad? It's supposed to be covered with gravel, but since I got rid of the marbles I've attacked it to the side of the tank. I don't think Tian-Tian would be dumb enough to go burn himself on it... would he?

 

I don't think he would. But if he's still got ich I advise meds soon. Ich kills quickly. I came up with this idea. Today I took Fishy out of his tank and gave him a salt bath, because for some reason the white spots fall off in a salt bath then I quickly took him out and put the wardleys in his cup to kill anything. Then in his 2 gallon bowl I super overdosed the meds (he's still in the cup) I was hoping that if I overdosed meds then rinsed well with hot water, that it would kill everything. So if you get that Wardleys' stuff you could try that.

 

Raise the heat up to about 86 degrees, Ich can not survive that temperature. your fish will become very lazy in the hot water, but should be able to manage it. Raise it slow though to keep temperature stress to a minimum.

Also note, when the spots seem to go away, that is when it is reproducing in the substrate and comes back even stronger.

Best of luck with treatment.

 

I'll see if I can get to the store later today. I need to buy more water conditioner, anyway, lol.

Well, the temperature has been rising slowly, but steadily. Tian-Tian has made more swimming efforts, but otherwise has not done much else. He was swimming just a moment ago but he's back to sulking in his castle again.

Thanks for the support, y'all!

 

I hope he gets to feeling better!

 

Me too, dramaqueen!

I'm about to head out the door and get me some fishy supplies. Tian-Tian has made a few attempts at swimming, but he's still taking long periods of time to rest inside his castle. He's practically huddled in there, poor little guy! I hate to see him like this!

Anywho, be back in a while.

Should I lower his water level so he doesn't have to make an effort to get some air?

 

I hope Tian-Tian gets to feeling better and pulls through...

I'd maybe lower it a little bit... make it a little bit easier on him.

 

Lowering the water level might be a good idea to make it easier for him to get air.

 

As the temp gets warmer he will want to swim less. When the crystals fall off next time, get him out of that tank immediately and into some thing that has never touched his tank, then thoroughly clean everything in his tank.

 

neenjar,

I totally just did that.
But good grief! You shoulda seen the gunk that came out in his water when I got him out! It was awful! I can't believe how fast that gunk breeds! Gross!

Still haven't gotten a chance to get to the store, dagummit. Been dealing with some other stuff around the house.