cleaner shrimp and ich

[er..md]

I have a small reef tank and have noticed 1 tiny white spot on a pectoral fin...catching the fish and or dismantling the tank are not feasible (office tank). what are the chances a cleaner shrimp or wrasse could control it if it is ich?
thanks

 

[dbgator1]

I've seen my cleaner shrimps cleaning away and if it is minor there is a chance they would help but there is no guarantee. I have fish with ich pretty bad and it is just to far along for the shrimp to help. Cleaner wrasses do not do well in tanks if anything a neon goby is a good option and they are very small. Good luck.

 

[renogaw]

they won't cure the tank or the fish of ich.

 

[dbgator1]

It;s a possibility if the problem is small. I have had success before but mine has reproduced so many times i think there is so much ich that it is to much for the shrimp it is all over my tang everywhere. If you only see one spot there is a chance it is nothing and if it is just starting there is a good chance that the shrimp will help. If the ich has not gone through its reproduction.

 

[sepulatian]

Cleaner shrimp and wrassies pick cysts off of fish, they do not get the ich that is breeding in the sand. If your problem is one spot then add a shrimp and feed your fish a very nutritious diet consisting of frozen formula foods dosed in vitamines and FRESH (see Beth's Common Treatments FAQ for how to) garlic. Set up a tank that you can treat them in if the problem becomes more severe. Set it up a home if you have to. Get it cycled.

 

[mlwoods007]

Keep in mind this is only my experience: I had/have ich in my 125 now for atleast 6 months. Right now, my fish list only consists of 6 blue chromis, a copper banded butterfly, and a scopas tang. There was a point when the tang showed multiple signs of ich, but not anymore. I have 3 cleaners and feed my fish food with some garlic on a daily basis. As of today, none of my fish have been showing any sign of ich for well a over a month now. Although I understand that the ich is still supposedly present in the system, my fish haven't shown any signs at all. Until I notice it being a huge problem, I'm going to let nature handle it. Keep in mind that if you do try and go this route, it will take a little time for your fish to get accustomed to your cleaner shrimp approaching it. Hope this helps