Cure Ich on a Goldfish
Symptoms of Ich or Ick
Parasite: Ichthyophthirius multifilis
One of the most common parasites found in goldfish aquariums is ich; also know as ick. If it goes untreated, it can kill a goldfish. The symptoms might include but not always:
- Tiny white spots
- Isolation
- Lethargy
- Clamped fins
- Difficulty breathing
These tiny white spots are the result of a goldfish’s immune system trying to fight off the ich parasite. The white spots can occur anywhere on a goldfish’s body but sometimes a goldfish sick with ich will have no white spots.
Cure Goldfish Ich
ONE: By observing the behavior of a sick goldfish and taking note of any odd behavior or appearance, ich can be identify.
TWO: Before treating a goldfish for ich, if it is possible, slowly warm the water of the goldfish tank temporarily to 75-80*F. This will encourage the parasite to speed up its life cycle. It will burst out of the skin of the goldfish and then fall to the bottom of the tank. It is only in this stage, the free swimming ‘swarmer’ stage that a goldfish can be cured of ich.
THREE: Remove any living aquatic plants since an ich treatment can damage or kill them.
FOUR: Do a 25% tank water change and make sure all the water parameters are optimal. Test for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels.
FIVE: Add a .03% concentration of aquarium salt at one teaspoon for every gallon of fish tank water. Aquarium salt can be purchased at local pet stores. It’s important that you treat the tank water, not just the sick goldfish. For that reason, don’t use a quarantine tank.
SIX: Over a 24 hour span, repeat this every 12 hours for a total of three doses of aquarium salt. The first ich treatment occurs at hour zero; 12 hours later is the second treatment; finally a third occurs 12 hours after that or 24 since the first. (Note: goldfish ich can get worse before it starts to get better.)
SEVEN: Allow the aquarium salt to sit in the water for two weeks, then remove it by preforming a large 50-75% water change.
EIGHT: In addition to salt, buy a good multi-purpose treatment that treats/prevents a wide range of goldfish diseases like Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food and Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food
Some bacteria might be killed while some will be fine. I don’t think you should be as concerned about that as much as the ich problem. Since the entire tank needs to be treated, you options are limited. People have been using aquarium salt for a long time now to treat ich and few people have had issues with the beneficial bacteria. You can always buy some bacteria to add after your treatment is complete. This packaged bacteria is okay but obviously not as good as what you get from a cycled tank.
Emily, that’s pretty much the same experiences that others have mentioned here. I recommend buying your fish from quality pet stores.
NEVER buy fish at Walmart…. I repeat, NEVER EVER buy fish at walmart. After we bought our pictus catfish it died within 2 days from ick. We returned to investigate and nearly all of the fish there were dying or had ick and our guess would be dying soon. They take no preventative measures to control ick and once our catfish died both of our goldfish got it as well as our school of neon tetras. We’re on day one of treatment with malachite green and aquarium salt. Hopefully we can save the ones we started with…
Emily´s last [type] ..Goldfish Accessories
Hi, I’m certain that my gold fish got Ich, and I want to treat them by salt. since I have recently cycled my and have just got the good bacteria going, I don’t wanna go through a new tank syndrome again if I don’t have to, I wanna be sure whether or not salt kills beneficial bacteria?
It has to be aquarium salt and it can’t be too much. Salt has been known to work just be careful when you add it.
Marryssa,
My fish just died from fish Ike to and that was about a week ago and all of my other fish are fine. I agree with admin, do a water change but not sure water salt is a good idea because when my cousin did that all of his fish sided about a day later
I’m sorry to hear about your black moor. Your other goldfish certainly can become infected with ich. I would do a water change and add some aquarium salt to be safe.
My black moor just died of ick should I be worried about
my other goldfish in the aquarium.I just got it two days ago from walmart.please. reply ASAP