jiffy-new developments

Question
QUESTION: hey-sorry to keep bothering, didn't know if you got my last follow up question; first, is it okay to leave garlic on the bottom of the tank for more than a day or two? second, jiffy seems to have lost his appetite-spits the food back out-and has developed little white spots (2-3) on his body and tail fin. added the 2 tsps of sea salt and raised the temp. as you suggested. any ideas? thanx again! dean

ANSWER: Hi, Dean, did you only add 2 teaspoons of salt or two teaspoons per gallon?

If he's in a 10 gallon tank, we've got to have 20 teaspoons of salt.  In otherwards, 2 teaspoons isn't going to help.

Let me know?  I am checking throughout the day.  I hope little Jiffy improves.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: got it. okay, so now the water is a little cloudy, i removed the garlic at the bottom, he took a nibble or two of food and stopped looking at me funny. :) i changed about 20% of the water and added the proper amount of sea salt. he's swimming around fine but i'm wondering about the little white spots i mentioned earlier-could it be the ich parasite? also, should i be changing the water more often? my daughter keeps asking, "What's the fishy doctor say, Dad?". cute.

Answer
Awe, how cute.

Well, I'm a mom.  2 daughters.  I know how cute they are! :)

Not a fish doctor, but I guess anyone who has them has to be from one time to another.

It could be Ich.  Either way, salt will kill the parasites as well.  It's all good.  Be certain to raise the temperature to at least 78F.  It will cycle the Ich parasites out if that is the issue.  They can only be killed at certain stages.

The parasite comes in a very hard shell.  That shell is impenetrable once it's in the fish, or when it's in plants and rock hunting.  The only stage you're able to kill the parasite in is during its free-swimming stage.  Therefore, we turn heat up and they hatch out, and the salt immediately kills them.  After a couple cycles (4 to 7 days), they are all gone, hopefully.  Should you encounter them again, remove the fish to a safe environment for one month, leaving the tank empty.  The Ich will die from starvation.

Although devastating when they hit, they are actually easy to take control of.  Either parasite or fungus, we're on the right track.

:)