Ick - Fritz Mardel: Parashield

[fishgirljockey]

Hi y'all,

Has anyone ever used this medication? I forgot I had it. I had bought it a while back when I was dealing with the Velvet in my salt aquarium. I bought every meds on the market as I was in a panic lol When I was at the store a lady had told me this was a miracle drug so I grabbed it. So it's been about 4 weeks now since I have been dealing with Velvet; everyones doing well so far.

I happen to also have a 40g long freshwater tank filled with 6 Duboisi Cichlids; babies. I also have two clown plecos, a chocolate zebra pleco, 3 kuhli loaches, a cuckoo catfish and a few snails. This morning when I woke up, I walked over to the Cichlids tank to turn on the lights. When I turned on the lights, the first thing I do is check everyone very carefully. I do this everyday religiously with both tanks. I noticed one of the baby cichlids had dots; definitely ick. I look more closely and noticed no one else had dots, only this one. I can't win can I? lol I remember I had this medication and I wanted to give it a try. The ick wasn't too bad. I could count about maybe 10 dots. So, I read the instructions and poured in the required dosage.

I went to use the bathroom really quick after I had poured the dosage. Now my bathroom is about 3 feet away from the tank so I only took about a minute cause I wanted to get back to the tank. When I came back to check the tank, I noticed the cichlid who had the dots, DIDNT HAVE ANYMORE DOTS! I kid you not. I was so confused. There is noway this stuff worked that fast? I even counted the 6 fish carefully to make sure I was looking at the right one. IM AMAZED! I have the Ladys number from the store so I called her up and said, "You've have got to be kidding me about that medication you said was a miracle drug! I used it and the ick was off the fish within seconds." and she laughed and said, " I told you!" If you haven't tried this stuff, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Here is the information on the medication if you're interested...its invertebrate/reef safe as well

Fritz Mardel - Parashield Herbal Parasite Remedy - 4oz​

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:​

Parashield is a revolutionary Bioadhesive supplement that repairs and strengthens a fishes natural slime coat which strengthens the fishes defense against parasitic infections such as Itch. New natural oils and filming technology for the relief of unwelcome parasites. The natural oils are combined with a polymer that acts as a slime coat and carries the oils to the body of the fish. A protein solubilizer helps promote the penetration of the oils into the cell structure of the fishes skin. The crowning additive is the biospheres technology. This causes the treatment package to be covered with a shield to maintain contact.

• A Safer Way to Treat Ick
• Does not Use Dyes or Metal-Based Active Ingredients
• Great for Preventative Treatments
• Safe for Plants and Invertebrates
• Safe for Fresh and Saltwater Systems

About Parashield®​

Parashield® is a revolutionary new way to help maintain fish optimum health. This bio-adhesive supplement repairs and strengthens the fish’s natural slime coat which protects against parasitic and other infections. Proven, natural oils and extracts are combined with a patented film forming matrix to help repair and strengthen a fish’s natural slime coat and help provide a protective shield around your fish. Use Parashield® as a preventative treatment after stressful events or for mild cases of common parasitic diseases such as Ick, protozoan Velvet and other parasites.
Active Ingredients: Capsaicin Oil, Chitosan, D-Limonene, Manuka and Neem Oil

Directions & Dosage​

Shake well before dosing. Add 4 drops per gallon or 5 ml (1 tsp) per 25 gallons of water to be treated.
For reef tanks and aquariums with invertebrates the dosage should be adjusted to two daily half treatments of two drops per gallon or 5 ml (1 tsp) per 50 gallons 12 hours apart. Treat every other day for a total of 6 treatments (2 treatments per day).

Day 1: Add 4 drops per gallon
Day 2: No medication or water changes needed
Day 3: Add 4 drops per gallon
Day 4: No medication or water changes needed
Day 5: Add 4 drops per gallon
Day 6: Perform a 25% water change if desired. Repeat this five-day treatment if symptoms improve, but have not completely disappeared. If no improvement has occurred, try our Maracyn® and/or Maracyn® Two treatments.

• For best results, increase water temperature above 80 degrees F
• Remove carbon during treatment, maintain adequate water flow or aeration
• Parashield® may cause excessive foam production in protein skimmers or tanks with airstones. Stop use of skimmer during treatment if excessive foaming is a concern.
• UV Sterilizer can be used during treatment
• Always complete a full course of treatment, even if symptoms improve or disappear before the fifth dose
• No contraindications: can be used with all of our other products and meds
• Safe for use with invertebrates, see special note below
• Safe for use with plants
• Do not perform water changes during the course of treatment. Bactershield® may inhibit nitrifying bacteria. If ammonia or nitrite is a concern, detoxify during treatment with Fritz A.C.C.R. or Fritz Complete
• Overdosed? Perform a large water change if distress is observed

Special note on Parashield®: During use some sessile invertebrates will retract for the first several hours. This condition will be temporary and may last for up to 24 hours. Tested on Stone Polyp, Brain Favites, Mushroom (Rhodactis), Ricordea sp., Favia Fragum, Plate Coral sp., Tubastraea sp., Knobby Leather sp., Acropora sp., Finger Coral (Porites) coral species. All corals and polyps may not react the same way as the test species.
Note: FOR AQUARIUM USE ONLY. Consult a veterinarian or fish expert for assistance in diagnosis of disease causing organisms and treatment options.

 

[Sharkbait19]

It works - but salt and heat also works just as well (and is a lot cheaper) FWIW. It most likely is useless in saltwater though (as all reef safe meds are). Sounds like all it’s doing is strengthening slime coat and doesn’t do much to kill the ich though - salt does a much better job there.
Do you have any pictures? Something sounds wrong with ich spots disappearing after 10 minutes (and even then, that doesn’t mean the course of infection is over, just that it’s going to reproduce). Juvie duboisi are covered in white spots, so it may be a color thing.

 

[fishgirljockey]

It works - but salt and heat also works just as well (and is a lot cheaper) FWIW. It most likely is useless in saltwater though (as all reef safe meds are). Sounds like all it’s doing is strengthening slime coat and doesn’t do much to kill the ich though - salt does a much better job there.
Do you have any pictures? Something sounds wrong with ich spots disappearing after 10 minutes (and even then, that doesn’t mean the course of infection is over, just that it’s going to reproduce). Juvie duboisi are covered in white spots, so it may be a color thing.

Man. I didn't take a before pic! Im super bummed. I wish I did. I really didn't think it would clear up like that to be honest. I know they have white spots, but I could distinguish the ick from their coloring because of the dots on the fins. I am going to treat the tank everyday until the recommended is done and keep you posted. I just wanted to try it because the lady was so keen about it. It really took off the dots within seconds. Im really wishing I had taken a before pic! If in the future, knock on wood, I have to deal with ick, I will document it and take a video for sure! Because this really is insane. I have dealt with ick before in the past with freshwater fish and I know normally with other medications I have used, the dots took 2-3 days to vanish. I do like to use the salt as you said. That works great too. But I just figure I would try it since I had it to see what the lady was so "omg" about. Now I see why.

 

[fishgirljockey]

It works - but salt and heat also works just as well (and is a lot cheaper) FWIW. It most likely is useless in saltwater though (as all reef safe meds are). Sounds like all it’s doing is strengthening slime coat and doesn’t do much to kill the ich though - salt does a much better job there.
Do you have any pictures? Something sounds wrong with ich spots disappearing after 10 minutes (and even then, that doesn’t mean the course of infection is over, just that it’s going to reproduce). Juvie duboisi are covered in white spots, so it may be a color thing.

Would I be okay to add salt still with this medication?

 

[Sharkbait19]

They should be okay to mix

 

[Sharkbait19]

They should be okay to mix

One thing I’ll note is that your snails, loaches, cats, and plecos may all be sensitive to salt, so keep an eye on them (and I’d remove the snails for the course of treatment). Stop salt if there are any signs of problems.
I personally had no problems putting loaches and a bn pleco through salt, but this does not speak for every experience.

 

[fishgirljockey]

They should be okay to mix

Great. Cause I still would like to add the salt just as an added preventative and treatment. Im still so bummed I didn't think to take a video or photo. Im still dumbfounded reading the bottle lol

One thing I’ll note is that your snails, loaches, cats, and plecos may all be sensitive to salt, so keep an eye on them (and I’d remove the snails for the course of treatment). Stop salt if there are any signs of problems.
I personally had no problems putting loaches and a bn pleco through salt, but this does not speak for every experience.

Okay! I only put very little but I’ll keep an eye out