Which disease is it? What should I do?

Question
QUESTION: Hi! I've had my 10 gallon freshwater tank since August 2006, along with 5 silver dollars. Originally, we had 2 danios, but one died.  Also, we started with two albino catfish and one of them also died.  Ever since our silver dollars were small (about 1 inch), two of them have had sort of glittery spots on their silver scales.  I've searched the web for photos and descriptions of Ich, but it doesn't look quite like that.  Rather than being visible all over the body of the fish, it is only along their backs.  For the first time since I've had this tank, I noticed the walls are covered with very tiny white larvae-and-flea-like creatures. Some of which I can see moving along the tank walls. I've never seen this in my tank before.  We haven't recently added more fish, or raised/lowered water temp., changed feeding schedules. The only thing I can think of that we've done differently was a few weeks ago after I cleaned the tank and changed about 25% of the water, I used half a tablet of the Tank Buddies medicine for Ich, following by one of their "Fungus Clear" tablets like the directions suggested. Also, as a treat for the fishies, I placed one "veggie-clamp" in the tank with a piece of "sea-weed salad". The fish liked it and ate it all up. That was probably two weeks ago. I want to clean the tank, and of course get rid of the "bugs", but I also want to make sure that I'll be safe doing so. I'm guessing they are harmless to humans, but they are creepy just the same. Should I wear gloves the next time I clean the tank? Is this actually an Ich infestation? Or something else?

Any advice/guidance is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
ANSWER: Hi Madeline
I've never had silver dollars, but from some photos I looked at, it sounds like that glittery look may be normal.  Here's a link, and under coloration, it describes them as having an iridescent color to them.  

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile23.html

You really should consider a larger tank for your fish, those silver dollars get to be about 6 inches, the danios and catfish like to be in groups of at least 3-5 as well for them to thrive.  Just something to think about :)

The larvae type bugs you're describing sounds like planaria.  They're pretty harmless but can eat fish eggs, look like white slugs with an arrow shaped head, usually hanging out on the glass.  They're common in tanks where the fish are overfed.  Just let nature take it's course with them, cut back on feedings, only feed once a day(and it's ok to skip a day or two during the week), be sure to do good gravel cleanings/vacuums, and change out at least 25-30% of your water once a week.  Only feed what the fish will eat in 5 minutes, and scoop out any remaining food.  The lack of food and frequent water changes will eventually get rid of them.  That's the best way to do it.  
You can wear gloves when you do the cleanings, but make sure they're the long ones that go up to your elbows, otherwise it just kind of defeats the purpose.  Make sure they're new, and weren't used with cleaning products.  Just be sure to wash your hands good after you've had your hands in the tank.  Doesn't sound like you have an ich problem.  You'll know that when you see it, looks like the fish were sprinkled with salt, a lot of times they'll rub/scratch on objects in the tank, or flash/dart around the tank.  

Good luck!

Christy

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

QUESTION: Thank you, Christy, for all your help and advice! I hope you are able to read the rating/thank you I submitted. :)

In that rating/thank you, I mention that we'll be moving (in-town) in about a month and a half. Do you have tips/guidance on how best to move my fish? Also, once we move I plan to get a bigger tank like you suggested. I hope my silver buddies can hang on until then!

Thank you again, Christy!

Answer
Hi Madeline
I was able to see them, and thank you!  That was nice :)

Well, I am an expert on moving fish lol, have done it several times in the past 2 years, 7 fish tanks worth of fish.  Had to move to a very small house temporarily for a year and a half, then another house for a month, then here to my permanent(hopefully lol) house.  This last move was a 12 hour trip, last year early spring from FL to TN and still cool outside.  Only lost one little cory cat during the move, and my 2 big golden severums afterwards because the water was shut off to the house so couldn't set up the tanks right away.

So, with that in mind, I would suggest if at all possible, have your new tank set up and running before you move the fish.  It is soooo much easier!  I bought a few(you should only need 1) of those plastic storage bins, either a 10 or 20 gallon should be fine.  When you're ready to move the fish, fill it with the tank water, not all the way though.  Be mindful, it will be very heavy to lift.  If you can, have it already in the back of a truck or whatever you're using and fill it there. Add the fish, but don't put any of the gravel or decorations in with them.  When you're driving, they can move and crush the fish.  I'd buy a smaller container, and put the gravel, decorations, filter pad/filter media, and some tank water to keep them wet in that container.  

When you get to the new place, add your gravel first and let it settle a bit before turning on the filter.  I would also add some of the old aquarium tank water to the new tank, and add some of the new tank water to the container they're in.  The ph may be different, and they'll need to adjust to that as well as any temperature differences.  Do this slowly, and keep adding water to the container like you do to the fish bag when you first buy fish.  Just slowly acclimate them.  Adding some of the old tank water, in my opinion just kinda helps a bit because it's not as huge of a shock being 100% new water.  

Keep the old filter pad and filter media, even though you'll probably have a new one with the new tank, just run both filters on the tank for at least a month or two.  The smaller filter probably won't help that much with filtration on a large tank, but will help the beneficial bacteria to establish in the new filter.  All your beneficial bacteria is on the filter pad, the gravel, any decorations etc.  So that will help to hopefully avoid the tank going through a new cycle, maybe it'll just be a mini cycle if anything.

That's it really.  Since it's just across town, probably not too far.  If it's going to be longer then an hour before you can start adding new water to the container, I would consider maybe buying a small battery operated air pump.  www.drsfosterandsmith.com sells them online for about 5.00 + shipping.  That will just help aerate the water for them.   Probably wouldn't be a bad investment for one of those, they're great if your power should happen to go out for an extended period of time.  

Other then that, it's not difficult to do, just more of a pain really :)  And like I said, it's so much easier if it's all set up on the other end.  If you can swing it, a 55 gallon would be perfect for the silver dollars, and leave some room for quite a few others.  Until then, I'd do a couple of water changes a week, maybe 2-3 of about 25% to keep the water quality good.

Hope that helps and good luck with your move and new tank!!  Let me know if you have more questions, especially when it gets closer to the time :) In the mean time, keep an eye out for sales on larger tanks.  A lot of times they'll sell the whole 55 gallon set up, usually minus the stand though.  

Christy