F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

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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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daddyrocks6
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F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by daddyrocks6 »

Hi,
I had posted something last night in the brackish forum about our puffers...but I figured I'd put a post in the hospital forum, b/c tonight after coming home from work, I'm convinced we have a problem...
We have 2 f8's in a 29 gallon tank...had them in there for about 3 weeks or so. Been feeding good and varied diet of shell-on-shrimp, frozen krill, crab and clams. The tank has been up and running for ~3 months now...seems to be fully cycled. Current parameters: 0 NH3, 0 nitrite, ~5 nitrate, pH 8.2...haven't had any problems w/ ammonia/ nitrite in about 2 months now. Prior to have these two puffers, we had one f8, that we lost to IPs which we tried to treat too late. The salinity ~1.004-1.005 (been slowly stepping it up)...
Both f8s were SO healthly, great appetites, bright white FULL bellies...pooping nice and solid brown (no evidence of IPs)...their bellies stay nice and full long after eating.

So ~2 days ago, my fiance and I noticed that both f8s were only swimming w/ one pectoral fin...Last night, my fiance noticed one doing a little bit of flashing, and again, the other was really only using one pectoral fin, and only looked like he was using one gill at a time. I did a 40% water change last night, just to be safe (even though water tested fine)...they ate ok. Not as voraciously as normal, but they still ate. My fiance told me that during the day he noticed some flashing...when I got home from work, one of the f8s was breathing fine, using both pec fins, but still noticed a little flashing...the other f8 wasn't using either pectoral fin at times, and I also saw him flash a couple of times. SO DEFINITELY we have a probl
We have had a 55 freshwater tank up and running for ~5 years now...and we had an ich outbreak w/ a new fish we didn't quarantine properly about 2 years ago...and I don't "see" any ich spots like I did for that outbreak on our puffers... but I know it starts to show in the gills usually. I don't see any other signs of parasites on the gills themselves, like gill flukes or anything...nothing is visible on the gills except for that they are a little bit inflamed...little reddish.

We had had the temp at about 80 degrees F...so I have been increasing it tonight slowly...have it at about 82-83 right now. Also, I did another 40% water change, and was due for a salinity increase anyway, so I stepped up the salinity w/marine mix...probably will be somewhere around a solid 1.005-1.006 when I measure w/ the refrac. tommorrow AM.

Does anyone have any ideas?? Do you think it sounds like ich?? PLus, how would I best combat it in a brackish tank? I've only had experience treating in freshwater (w/ the temp raised to ~86 degrees and addition of 1-2 TBSP aquarium salt/gallon for ~2.5-3 weeks it worked like a charm). THat's why I instinctively raised the temp up tonight...and trying to get the salt up a little w/ out risking doing it too fast and ruining my bio-filtration.

Sorry for the LONG post...just really don't want to lose these guys... :o
Sandy
29 gallon: one F8 puffer, Chauncers
55 gallon: clown loach, tiger barb, two tetras, two platys, banded leporinus, flying fox, one albino cory, candy stripe pleco and common pleco.
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daddyrocks6
Puffer Fry
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:26 pm
My Puffers: One figure 8 puffer: Chauncers
Location: Long Beach, NY

Re: F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by daddyrocks6 »

Oh, and prior to these last two days of doing 40% water changes back to back...We are on a weekly water change schedule...40% changes. And we always use Prime to treat water before adding it back to tank...thanks!!
Sandy
29 gallon: one F8 puffer, Chauncers
55 gallon: clown loach, tiger barb, two tetras, two platys, banded leporinus, flying fox, one albino cory, candy stripe pleco and common pleco.
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Re: F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by Pufferpunk »

There's absolutely no way a parasite could have been introduced to that tank? Are they eating well?
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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daddyrocks6
Puffer Fry
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:26 pm
My Puffers: One figure 8 puffer: Chauncers
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Re: F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by daddyrocks6 »

They are eating well...One better than the other. But I think the other guy is just a little more picky, too. When I got up this AM, they're both extremely active, which is GREAT. I still have the temp at about 83 degrees...The one who I really see not using his pectoral fins is also the guy who loves to hang out near the current from the filter, which is pretty strong. WHen he's not by there, I'm noticing this morning, that he does pop both pectoral fins out and use them. Could it be that I'm just being totally PARANOID, and they're fine?!? I mean, I don't see any ich signs other than the flashing a bit like I said (haven't seen that again since last night), and also the gill issue. But no spots at all...

Would it be harmful to keep the temp up to ~83-84 degrees anyway for a period of time?? THey have plenty of oxygen...nice big bubble wall. I also plan to do another water change today...
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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32976
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:
Contact Pufferpunk

Re: F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by Pufferpunk »

Couldn't hurt... Just observe for now.
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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daddyrocks6
Puffer Fry
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:26 pm
My Puffers: One figure 8 puffer: Chauncers
Location: Long Beach, NY

Re: F8s w/ possible ich?? (flashing/ inflamed gills)

Post by daddyrocks6 »

Thanks,
Yeah, they seem to be doing just fine today...haven't seen any flashing since Fri night...(not that it was constant flashing either)....and it seems from observing them that when they swim in front of the filter, that's when they really alternate use of their pectoral fins...really funny. We are SO sensitive in watching these guys every move since we lost the first f8 we had to IPs...I check the water every other day or so...and are always watching for signs of stress, etc.

So, I'm going to keep the temp up for a while...they have plenty of oxygen in the water. And just watch. ALso, my fiance and I did a great tank cleaning yesterday, pulling out plants, cleaning off algae, vacuuming, etc..and did another 40% water change...the salinity is ~1.006 right now, so I think that's in a great range for them. Thanks!!
Sandy
29 gallon: one F8 puffer, Chauncers
55 gallon: clown loach, tiger barb, two tetras, two platys, banded leporinus, flying fox, one albino cory, candy stripe pleco and common pleco.
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