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Blue Hippo w/ Ich

J

jliska429

Hey everyone I need some opinions about recent livestock purchase-I bought a blue hippo that appeared clean and healthy, but after the first day is flashing against the rocks and appears to have some small white spots developing. I am still within the 48 hour window of guarantee from the LFS, but is this something I can bring back to the LFS or should I start treatment right away?

The hippo is still swimming and acting normally, and ate food during each feeding today. My other fish have never showed signs of ich in the past and are still clean. (fingers crossed) Tank parameters are normal-but I know BH are notorious for skin infections so the fish could have developed this from stress of transfer even it was healthy a day before. Although it has not acted stressed at all with the exception of the flashing. I am kicking myself for not setting the QT before. Any experiences on whether the LFS will take the fish back? or will they say my tank caused the outbreak so here are some meds?
 
J

jliska429

Nevermind the 3 spots are gone this morning. Maybe just loose scales from flashing against the rocks? Should I still be concerned about the flashing behavior though?
 
R

Rbu1

Well odds are that if the fish is flashing against the rock he has ich. The spots may have just dropped off the do its thing in the substrate. If it is going to resurface you will see it in another day or so. In my opinion ich is like a flu for us. If the fish is healthy and fed well it will fight it off...
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
to be safe, you can use some fresh garlic, and chop/grind it real fine, then mix with some flake/dried food, and feed them to your fishes for few days or a week - the ich will not like to attach to them anymore. this is a hit or miss method, and i find it did works for me few times in the past.

good luck.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Most likely it is just in the part of the Ich's life cycle where it falls off and falls to the substrate.  If the fish continues to be stressed the ich that has fallen off where the hippo sleeps will catch a ride back on in about 10-14 days.  I agree with assesment that a health fish will evenually rid itself of the ich, I would make sure you use garlic and selcon as much as possible.  I do it constantly with my tank, I buy the nori with garlic and use selcon with my mysis both of which my hippo eats.  I assume the hippo is in the DT and you cannot go hypo with them which, if the fish was in QT I would suggest. 

Add selcon also...for question below.
 
J

jliska429

Thanks for the tip with the garlic. I will definitely add it to their feedings. I think I will try a homemade recipe for their food, anything else that helps that I should add?
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

I bought mine at AO...so the answer is yes ... I am sure the other LFS have it too. I usually just add a few drops when I open the little plastic cubes as they thaw.
 
J

jliska429

Great-thanks for the help. I am in Middletown so AO isn't too far and I've been needing to make my first trip there, I've only heard good things.
 
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