Shrimp and ich

rscotth · 11-14-2001, 10:10 PM

I have noticed ich in my reef rank. I added a reef safe remedy that I bought from my lfs. I have heard that cleaner shrimp are beneficial in removing ich. The cleaner shrimp at my lfs were $25.00. If I am going to lose everything because of the ich I don't want to lose $100.00 worth of shrimp. They did have some camel shrimp and atlantic shrimp that were less that $8.00. Would these work the same as the cleaner shrimp? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

eses · 11-14-2001, 10:24 PM

Unless I'm really mistaken, inverts can't get ich. So you won't lose your shrimp to ich. I am 90% sure about this, so hopefully someone can back this up or dispute it.

Camel shrimp won't clean parasites off of fish. So adding them won't do what your looking for, they will clean up around the tank, just not in the way you want.

Best way to get rid of ich, in my opinion, is to remove the fish to a quarantine tank and use hyposalinity technique to rid the fish of the ich. Let the tank run fish-free for several weeks for the parasites to naturally die out, and re-introduce the fish. Healthy, unstressed fish should be able to resist any remaining ich that might be present. You'll want to do some more research on it if your not already familiar, but I think the total time required is in the neighborhood of 13 weeks.

I have yet to found anything that will work in-tank to cure ich, some people have used Kent RxP with good results, the only way I've been able to cure ich is removing the fish and using the RxP + hyposalinity.

rscotth · 11-14-2001, 11:56 PM

Will the shrimp take care of the ich that has not reached the phase that is present on the fish? I have read that before ich molts(?) into what you see on the fish it lives in the substrate and rocks.

I am not familiar with the hyposalinity technique. Are inverts adversely affected?

Thanks,
Scott

**Ninong** · 11-15-2001, 07:34 AM

Hi Scott, welcome to Reefland!

Joaco has covered this topic on his website, so I'll just link you to it here: http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/hyposalinity.htm

You cannot use hyposalinity in a reeftank as it will kill invertebrates; you would have to set up a separate quarantine/hospital tank. Camel shrimp are not recommended for reeftanks as they are corallivores. Common cleaner shrimp are helpful to some extent in controlling ich but will probably not be a complete fix. Many people report success in fighting ich with garlic soaked food--Kyolic garlic extract (sold in GNC stores).

Check out Joaco's site, he covers all of this stuff.

Good luck,

Ninong

11-14-2001, 10:10 PM	#1
rscotth Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mobile,AL Posts: 22	Shrimp and ich I have noticed ich in my reef rank. I added a reef safe remedy that I bought from my lfs. I have heard that cleaner shrimp are beneficial in removing ich. The cleaner shrimp at my lfs were $25.00. If I am going to lose everything because of the ich I don't want to lose $100.00 worth of shrimp. They did have some camel shrimp and atlantic shrimp that were less that $8.00. Would these work the same as the cleaner shrimp? Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Scott

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-14-2001, 10:24 PM	#2
eses Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 270	Unless I'm really mistaken, inverts can't get ich. So you won't lose your shrimp to ich. I am 90% sure about this, so hopefully someone can back this up or dispute it. Camel shrimp won't clean parasites off of fish. So adding them won't do what your looking for, they will clean up around the tank, just not in the way you want. Best way to get rid of ich, in my opinion, is to remove the fish to a quarantine tank and use hyposalinity technique to rid the fish of the ich. Let the tank run fish-free for several weeks for the parasites to naturally die out, and re-introduce the fish. Healthy, unstressed fish should be able to resist any remaining ich that might be present. You'll want to do some more research on it if your not already familiar, but I think the total time required is in the neighborhood of 13 weeks. I have yet to found anything that will work in-tank to cure ich, some people have used Kent RxP with good results, the only way I've been able to cure ich is removing the fish and using the RxP + hyposalinity.

11-14-2001, 11:56 PM	#3
rscotth Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mobile,AL Posts: 22	Will the shrimp take care of the ich that has not reached the phase that is present on the fish? I have read that before ich molts(?) into what you see on the fish it lives in the substrate and rocks. I am not familiar with the hyposalinity technique. Are inverts adversely affected? Thanks, Scott

11-15-2001, 07:34 AM	#4
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19,724	Hi Scott, welcome to Reefland! Joaco has covered this topic on his website, so I'll just link you to it here: http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/hyposalinity.htm You cannot use hyposalinity in a reeftank as it will kill invertebrates; you would have to set up a separate quarantine/hospital tank. Camel shrimp are not recommended for reeftanks as they are corallivores. Common cleaner shrimp are helpful to some extent in controlling ich but will probably not be a complete fix. Many people report success in fighting ich with garlic soaked food--Kyolic garlic extract (sold in GNC stores). Check out Joaco's site, he covers all of this stuff. Good luck, Ninong

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)