Black ich: inverts, blennies, and formalin

Hal · 03/08/2006, 07:30 PM

I've got a yellow tang that looks like it has black ich. There are also 2 nassarius snails in that tank. I'm thinking about plopping the snails into another tank, but wondered if they could carry the black ich with them?

I also have a lawnmower blenny in the same tank. As far as I can tell it doesn't have the black ich, but honestly, who can tell with it's mottled coloration? Should I treat the blenny too?

I'm probably going to do a formalin dip for treatment, but I'm unclear as to how this prevents the fish from getting re-infected after the dip. Anyone know the answer?

jun_celis · 03/08/2006, 07:38 PM

If you have it in the main tank, then the parasite is already in it. It's a good chance that after you do the formallin dip, and put the tang back in the main tank, he might get it again and again. I'm speaking for my personal experience. I had a FO tank once and black ich on my YT. I've treated him several times and put him in the quarantine tank for a few days and without any signs of black ich. Then I put him back in main tank, 2 days later... it's baaaack!

Hal · 03/08/2006, 07:49 PM

Truth be told, the tang, blenny, and 2 snails are in my QT.

The snails were leftover from when I used the tank as a temporary home while I set up my main tank. I just never bothered to remove them. Shame on me.

All this begs the question though of why won't the tang get re-infected in the QT after the dips? I was planning on leaving him in the QT after the dips to observe if the dips were successful.

mikersx02 · 03/08/2006, 11:34 PM

buy a steralizer for your main tank.

My YT came down with Black Ich, i treated him and he has been back in the main tank for 3 or 4 days now. No ich- no problems.

03/08/2006, 07:30 PM	#1
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Black ich: inverts, blennies, and formalin I've got a yellow tang that looks like it has black ich. There are also 2 nassarius snails in that tank. I'm thinking about plopping the snails into another tank, but wondered if they could carry the black ich with them? I also have a lawnmower blenny in the same tank. As far as I can tell it doesn't have the black ich, but honestly, who can tell with it's mottled coloration? Should I treat the blenny too? I'm probably going to do a formalin dip for treatment, but I'm unclear as to how this prevents the fish from getting re-infected after the dip. Anyone know the answer?

03/08/2006, 07:49 PM	#3
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Truth be told, the tang, blenny, and 2 snails are in my QT. The snails were leftover from when I used the tank as a temporary home while I set up my main tank. I just never bothered to remove them. Shame on me. All this begs the question though of why won't the tang get re-infected in the QT after the dips? I was planning on leaving him in the QT after the dips to observe if the dips were successful. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

03/08/2006, 07:38 PM	#2
jun_celis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 1,487	If you have it in the main tank, then the parasite is already in it. It's a good chance that after you do the formallin dip, and put the tang back in the main tank, he might get it again and again. I'm speaking for my personal experience. I had a FO tank once and black ich on my YT. I've treated him several times and put him in the quarantine tank for a few days and without any signs of black ich. Then I put him back in main tank, 2 days later... it's baaaack!

03/08/2006, 11:34 PM	#4
mikersx02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 357	buy a steralizer for your main tank. My YT came down with Black Ich, i treated him and he has been back in the main tank for 3 or 4 days now. No ich- no problems.