Ick with synos and inverts

[Timberwolf]

I have the beginnings if an outbreak of ick in my tank and I'm trying to figure out how to treat a tank with scaleless fish, shrimp, and snails in it. Is there a product that will work without hurting my cats, or killing my shrimp? I have heard that some ick meds at half-strength can work with the cats, but what about the inverts?

I also pulled a molly out for quarantine this morning. She is clamped and has a bulge and some redness on her gill-plate on one side. If I have to treat with an antibiotic, is there a way of not killing my filter, or do I just need to pull the media and keep it in a bowl with some neons until the process is over?

[MatsP]

You really have to read the instructions for that particular medication - I think most Ick medications are "no good" for shrimp and such.

I'll be blunt on the second question: Mollies are pretty easy to get hold of and mollies are not that long-lived even in ideal conditions - is it REALLY worth the money, effort and risk of causing further problems and complications by using antibiotics [assuming that antibiotics is actually likely to be the right medication].

--
Mats

[Hitch]

I always use Kordan's Rid-Ich+ for ich control. Have treated many fancy plecos and corys that came down with ich. I am not too sure about what inverts you have, but I have used this med with anything from snails, to crystal red shrimps, bee shrimps and red cherries and have never lost one due to the treatment.

Here is what protocol I use:

Day 1:
Bring temp to 86-88F
Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every 5 gals.
add 1 teaspoon of Rid-Ich for every 10 gals.

Day 2:
repeat Day1

Day 3:
repeat Day 1

Day 4:
Just add the same dose of Rid-Ich, no more salt.

Day 5-7:
Same as day 4

Day 8-10:
Just leave everything be.

Usually you will see all of the spots gone by like day 5, but I treat to day 10 just to kill the last of the last.

I usually dont do water changes in these 10 days, but at the times that I did, I would add back the medication that was taken out by the WC.

I think this protocol is modified from the one on PF.

[Richard B]

I have found synos to be really quite tough however when they start to suffer it can be difficult to get them better.

Mine have never reacted badly to meds.

[jippo]

I have found synos to be really quite tough however when they start to suffer it can be difficult to get them better.

Mine have never reacted badly to meds.

I agree. But with Microsynodontis batesii and polli I have opposite experience. I got white spot disease in one of my tank and I was using Protozin of Waterlife for treatment. They didn't got white spot at all but went very bad shape after medicine treatment and finally I lost all of them.

[Timberwolf]

Thanks everybody!

I have had to leave town, so my better half has stepped up the salt in the tank, which had some positive effect. I will be back in the Tri-Cities area tomorrow night and will begin the treatment then.