Black mark/smudge on fahaka

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Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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Fedgar
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Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Fedgar »

Hi guys I'm hoping you can help, yesterday evening I came home to find my fahaka puffer had developed a black mark/smudge on his face just under his eye. The mark isn't raised from the skin and isn't a uniform shape and it has not grown or changed at all in the past 24 hours. I have tried to research it but the only things that I can find are ammonia burns and black spot disease but I don't think it's either of these.

He is feeding and acting normally, and as a bit of extra info, I posted a topic a little while ago about strange faeces he was creating (white mucousy film), he is no longer producing these but I still intend to treat him with metronidazole as soon as it arrives in the post.

I have attached some photos, apologies for the poor quality but hopefully they will help with diagnosis, any advice as to the cause of this black mark would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance :)

Tank Parameters:
pH 7.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0
Tank size 106 litres 30"x12"x18" (he will be upgraded to a bigger tank as soon as possible)
Inhabitants: 1x Fahaka
Recent changes: fahaka was moved into his new tank approx 2 weeks ago
The tank has been set up for 3 weeks running on a mature Eheim 2217 filter which has been running on another tank for 2 years
Water changes: 45-60 litres per week in 3-4 installments
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bertie 83
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Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by bertie 83 »

Could it be a burn from an unprotected heater?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Fedgar
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Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Fedgar »

Yeah I considered that, looking at pictures of burns though, they're usually white (?) and it doesn't look ulcerated or anything. Will pick up a heater guard just in case though :)
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Pufferpunk »

Add some Melafix & up those WC, to get the nitrate down <20.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Fedgar
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Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Fedgar »

Ok thanks for the advice, can I use melafix and metronidazole at the same time? Whist I have you guys, could you give me some further advice on using metronidazole please? I've read on this forum that you are supposed to treat the fish orally in it's food, will this treat any Protozoa that may be in the tank as well or should I treat orally and the water as well? Could you also confirm the dosage required please? Thanks guys and sorry to be a pain!
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32773
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:
Contact Pufferpunk

Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Pufferpunk »

I have only treated for IPs internally.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Fedgar
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Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Fedgar »

What dosage is required orally? I'm getting 250mg tablets and he's 4-5 inches long :)
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32773
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:
Contact Pufferpunk

Re: Black mark/smudge on fahaka

Post by Pufferpunk »

Just soak his food in 1 crushed tab. All food must be treated for 3-5 days.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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