- 1). Examine your fish for signs of ick. Fish with ick will refuse food, appear sluggish and develop a number of small white spots on the scales. The parasite that causes ick attaches itself to the fish, feeding off the scales and irritating the skin. The parasite develops a thick capsule as it feeds, falling to the bottom of the tank to multiply after feeding.
- 2). Turn up the aquarium heater and allow the water to reach 80°F. The life cycle of the ick parasite speeds up in warmer temperatures, so increasing the heat causes them to release themselves from the fish sooner than at lower temperatures.
- 3). Move your fish to a holding tank; ick cannot survive without fish. Increase the temperature in the infected tank to 85°F to kill off any remaining parasites. Allow the tank to remain at 85°F for 72 hours. Lower the temperature to a normal range and place your fish back in the original tank.
- 4). Add malachite green and formalin to your tank. Malachite green and formalin can be purchased at your local aquarium-supply store. Dispense them at the rate of one mL per 40 gallons, or approximately four drops in a standard 10-gallon tank. Malachite green is an effective treatment for ick, as it penetrates the cyst around the ick parasites and kills them on contact. Use with caution as it may stain decorations inside the tank.
- 5). Use aquarium salt to protect your fish and keep them healthy. Salt helps balance minerals in your water and builds a slime coat on the fish which protects them from illnesses. Place one teaspoon of salt for every gallon of water inside your aquarium, agitating gently with a clean spoon for even distribution.
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