[Fisheye]

I'm pretty much a newbie fish owner and I broken one of the sacred laws of fish buying and that's bringing home new fish without having them rest in a spare tank for the two weeks. So an outbreak of ick happened and hit every one in the tank.

I treated the ick successfully with raised temperature, salt (pre soaked and in 12 hour intervals in recommended amounts) and quick cure (1 drop per gallon) with removed filtration, but one of the fantail fish seemed to be hit hard, but I'm not exactly sure what did it.

I think she was recovering about a month ago from a wound on the side of her right gill which she got mysteriously as well. It's a small spot and it was healing nicely. But I think it wore her defenses down, as when the ick hit, she was covered with it while the others were lightly effected.

So on day two of the treatments for ick, I noted that the poor fantail had lost a lot of scales on her left side and was clamping her fins on that side as well, but not the other. And her dorsal fin was starting to deteriorate as well. So I rushed her out of the tank and put her in the hospital tank, treating with Maracyn and Maracyn-Two and a far lighter dosage of salt. It seems to be working, although it took longer to get rid of the ick, but I'm worried about the scale loss and what to expect. I've not really seen anyone talk about this on various websites and forums.

Anyway, it's day 4 of the M&M2 treatment today, the ick disappeared yesterday, her dorsal fin seems to be healed, but the scales I'm worried about. I look, but I cannot see any cotton fungus, or any further scale loss. I think I see something very small and black, but I cannot tell what that is, if it's anything at all. Looks a bit like two slivers, but it could be something else. There has been no further scale loss and she is swimming normally. Her appetite is below normal. I put a lot of flakes in there and she'll eat some or spit them out about half the time. I know she's eating though, as she's still pooping a fair amount. She's does not seem out of it, but does like to hide when I'm close and not show me her tender side, so it's a real challenge to inspect her closely.

So I'm open to suggestions. I don't know what to expect other than death from the scale loss, but she's hanging in there, looks to actually survive this if I can manage to do this correctly from this point on. I just don't know where to go from here as she's about to be taken off the meds soon (a 5 day treatment) and I'm a little scared to do this. And I'm also scared to put her in with the others as well as her side looks extra tender to me where she probably would not like her friends to be with bumping into her side. The water in the main tank is still high on the salts and will be for a few more days to make sure the icks are surely defeated, so I'd probably be a week before I should consider that, I suppose. So I'm thinking it could be better if she'll stay in her hospital tank for a couple weeks or perhaps forever? I really don't know how to cope with a heavy scale loss fish after recovery, assuming she'll revive and not die off soon.

So I hope someone can tell me what to expect or help me though this. Thanks for reading and to all those that reply.