Ick on a Mandarin?

[LeanneP]

Well, I think that my mandarin has ick. There is a spot on top of his back where his back fin starts and some on the bottom of his fins. Is this for sure ick? Was really hard to get good pics. What is the best method for a mandarin? Hypo?

[hillegom]

If its ich, if one fish has it, all of them could be infected. Some just can deal with ich better. Ich usually infects the gills first, so its hard to spot.
If you cure the mandarin, out of the tank, when he goes back in, he could be infected again.
I would treat all the fish, and leave your DT fallow for 8 weeks

[LeanneP]

Yes, I realize about treating all the fish and leaving the tank fallow. I didn't think that you could give copper to a mandarin since they only have a slime coat. I have tried to upload photos but it hasn't worked. Just want to know best way to treat the mandarin if copper is not available.

[George]

Tank transfer method or Chloroquine phosphate (new life spectrum ick shield powder).

[LeanneP]

Thanks. Just saw the ick shield today. I will have to get some. Didn't realize you could use it for mandarins. Is it effective?

[rsisvixen]

Do you have any sand in your tank?

My mandarin sleeps in a cave my dartfish dug out, I have a fine sandbed and he'll usually have a few grains stuck to his mucus coating in the mornings. They fall off once he starts swimming around.
Mandarins are unlikely to get ich unless already sick or overly stressed as they have a thick mucus layer.

[George]

Originally Posted by LeanneP

Thanks. Just saw the ick shield today. I will have to get some. Didn't realize you could use it for mandarins. Is it effective?

It is very effective against marine ich. make sure you get the powder to dissolve it in your QT tank, not the pellet. The problem with pellets is that 1. your mandarin might not eat it. 2. it's impossible to eat enough of it to be effective.
Good luck.

[LeanneP]

Thanks for the info. Blue spot gobys don't have have a slime coat do they?