[Timothy12]

Hi I was wondering about treting Mbuna cichlids with ich. I've had a lot of experience treating fish with ich, but not cichlids. Two of my fish already it pretty badly before i had a chance to buy the medicine, but they didn't have the kind i usually buy(they had a powdery kind, not the dissolving discs that I'm used to), the treatment didn't work and those two fish died. I just bought a liquid treatment which was recommended by the store helper. I have now been using it for 24 hours so I haven't had time to notice any changes yet.

I'm wondering if the problem was
A. My late reaction and treatment.
B. The brand I used was poor quality.
C. Cichlids aren't as good at dealing with ich as other fish are.

Thanks in advance!

 

[BlueSunshine]

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=417657

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/ich.php

We use canning salt, it does not have iodine or anti caking additives.

 

[Timothy12]

Does it work really well? Also I don't know where I could get canning salt. Would aquarium salt work?
thanks!

 

[Old Newbie]

Does it work really well? Also I don't know where I could get canning salt. Would aquarium salt work?
thanks!

Canning salt can be purchased at most supermarkets; aquarium salt or sea salt (also available at the grocery) would work as well. Aquarium salt is more expensive.

 

[Timothy12]

Sea salt? I'm pretty sure the sea salt that you can buy at the grocery store has iodine.

 

[Royalroacho]

Does it work really well? Also I don't know where I could get canning salt. Would aquarium salt work?
thanks!

You can use non iodized kosher salt, it's cheap and available. If it doesn't go away, I've had quick results treating it with metronidazole, it's kinda spendy though.

 

[Cyphro]

At walmart they have huge bags of solar salt for 6 bucks. The africans love having salt, they go rub their bodies all in it and look like they are ecstatic. I just keep salt in with them all the time, though I have laughed to see how many people kick up a fuss about this. I keep it about halfway between brackish and fresh.

Solar salt is salt that is dried in the sun from seawater, btw. I suppose you could use this for marine aquariums too and save a bundle, but I have not done so before.

 

[Old Newbie]

Sea salt? I'm pretty sure the sea salt that you can buy at the grocery store has iodine.

Sea salt is dehydrated sea water; if it has iodine it will be clearly marked on the front of the container like table salt.

 

[Cyphro]

Oh, and I second the malachite green as a medication, though I would not bother with it for simple ich unless you just can't get it to go. Great stuff, just dillute it before adding to aquarium, if you get a drop directly on a fish in a sensitive spot it means immediate death.