Treatment of Ichthyophthirius (white spot disease) with sera costapur F
Unfortunately, I have brought white spot disease into my 200 liter aquarium on the weekend when I added new fish. I immediately purchased sera costapur, about which I now have a few questions. It says on the package that you should add the treatment on the 1st and 3rd days while switching UV lamps off. I added the first treatment yesterday. Until now, only three small tetras have died, and the spots have not become any better. Should I add the treatment only the day after tomorrow? In other words, after 48 hours? And then again on the 5th and 7th day? I also raised the temperature to 26°C and am adding oxygen, however the fish still breathe quickly, and my catfish go to the surface to take up some air every few minutes. Is that normal?
Hello,
Concerning "white spot disease":
this is of course possible. However, in most cases the pathogens were latently present in the tank anyway (which does not cause problems, although this may sound paradox!) and got their chance with the fish stressed by the transfer.
Concerning "treatment":
the parasites may already be present on the fish before you can see them. Therefore it sometimes seems (!) as if the infection would even become worse at the beginning of the treatment. However, this is not the case, but the already encapsulated parasites become visible by and by.
The treatment targets at interrupting the multiplication cycle of the parasite: the parasites fall off the fish after a few days, form cysts and multiply. When these cysts break open, up to 1,000 new parasites start searching for a fish. And this is exactly when sera costapur F sets in by killing these so-called swarmers, thus preventing a re-infection. The above mentioned repeated tretment therefore indeed makes sense.
The conventional aquarium light can remain switched on. The text about switching off lamps only refers to special UV lamps (so-called water clarifiers) that are operated in the filter circuit or along with it.
Concerning "gasp for air":
this is normal - Ichthyophthirius also affects the gills, therefore causing respiration problems. It is possible to treat or alleviate the symptoms by adding sera ectopur (can be used along with sera costapur F). Depending on the catfish species (cories) additional air uptake is perfectly normal and has nothing to do with a disease or its treatment.
Best regards
sera GmbH
Dr. Bodo Schnell