Fin Rot or Bite?

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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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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edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
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Location: Texas

Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by edmlfc1 »

Edit: 156G Coralife 225(?) protein skimmer, 55G sump, mag 18 pump, 3-maxijet 1200 powerheads

Tank mates:

Stars & Stripes puffer 10", snowflake eel 12", GSP 3.5", Wrasse 3.5", Lawnmower Blenny 3"





Elvis' tail had a halfmoon black spot a few days ago. It went back to yellow for about 2 days. This morning it was there again, this afternoon it got larger and now it's fraying. Is this fin rot? If so how do I treat it? Or what do I treat it with?

I looked up fin rot and it says white fuzzy fraying fins. Not the case here but wondering if it might be something else.

He is still in hypo, sg 1.009, amm. 0, nitrite 0, ph 8.2, nitrate 10

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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

It doesn't look like fin rot to me. When my mollies and ciclids had it, the edges went white. I've never seen black on rotting fins. They look almost like leaves that are going very wilt-y around the edges...
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

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NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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Dadof4
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My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
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Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by Dadof4 »

That almost looks beak like....Did Elvis have a spat with his roomie?
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
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My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Bad Chong! :)
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by edmlfc1 »

If he did Chong would have to bite him at least 6 times to make a bite that big. :( I was thinking maybe it was Daisy my snowflake eel. I don't really know what to think or who could have done it. I guess if his fin was clamped Chong or Hoover could have done it in one bite. Although Chong is still sticking to Elvis like glue. And Hoover (wrasse) pretty much stays out of Elvis' way. Sometimes he will swim circles around Elvis, but when Elvis looks at him, he'll shoot to the other side of the tank. I just don't know! I have never seen any aggression in the tank, not even at feeding time. But now there is hardly no rock in there so it's always possible. So is this two votes on a bite?
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
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edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
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Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by edmlfc1 »

LilGreenPuffer wrote:Bad Chong! :)
Don't be too quick to blame Chong, there are two others that have teeth in the tank that might have done it. :?
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

Awww. Tell Chong I'm sorry.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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Dadof4
Tech Team
Posts: 2862
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 5:50 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
Location (country): United States
Location: North Wisconsin

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by Dadof4 »

That does look like a bite to me. I don't know if I'd blame Chong out right. All though in the shot with the tail clamped, it does look possible. Wouldn't Daisy have actually taken a good chunk right out instead of leaving a mark like this. In the second shot that sure looks like teeth marks more towards the middle of the tail. Hoover that kind of fish?
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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User avatar
LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

So, a puffer's beak sorta smooshes fins?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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fishlady1958
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 146
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:11 am
My Puffers: 4 pea puffers...eenie, meenie, mineie, and moe
1 Fahaka ....Ra....(named after the egyptian sun god)
colony of 60 F1 tropheus red chimba's
assorted cichlid tank....calvus, buffalo head, honduran red point, hi fin loaches...
4 discus in a planted tank
tetra's, and rams in another planted tank....
Location: Cypress, Texas
Contact:
Contact fishlady1958

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by fishlady1958 »

i being one of the new kids on the block....don't rightly know what it is...
but i have a question though.....in my FW tanks when i have an injured fin like this i treat it with melafix ....it's great...so my question is ....would that work on SW too?
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User avatar
LilGreenPuffer
Former Staff Member
Posts: 5301
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)

RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond.
Location (country): United States
Location: Kentucky

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

I can say with about 90% certainty that you can. Don't take my word for it, but I think one of the big cheeses on this site said yes.
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Image

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!

I AM A DUDETTE!

NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Top
User avatar
edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by edmlfc1 »

Dadof4 wrote:That does look like a bite to me. I don't know if I'd blame Chong out right. All though in the shot with the tail clamped, it does look possible. Wouldn't Daisy have actually taken a good chunk right out instead of leaving a mark like this. In the second shot that sure looks like teeth marks more towards the middle of the tail. Hoover that kind of fish?
Hoover is a wrasse. I guess any of them could have done it. :(
fishlady1958 wrote:i being one of the new kids on the block....don't rightly know what it is...
but i have a question though.....in my FW tanks when i have an injured fin like this i treat it with melafix ....it's great...so my question is ....would that work on SW too?
Yes they make melafix for saltwater tanks. I have never used it, never had the need to. If it's just a bite....with good water quality it should heal on it's own in a few days. With them being in hypo and my tank just being recycled I really don't want to add anything to it. So I'll keep an eye on him and see how things go. :D
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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User avatar
fishlady1958
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 146
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:11 am
My Puffers: 4 pea puffers...eenie, meenie, mineie, and moe
1 Fahaka ....Ra....(named after the egyptian sun god)
colony of 60 F1 tropheus red chimba's
assorted cichlid tank....calvus, buffalo head, honduran red point, hi fin loaches...
4 discus in a planted tank
tetra's, and rams in another planted tank....
Location: Cypress, Texas
Contact:
Contact fishlady1958

Re: Fin Rot or Bite?

Post by fishlady1958 »

i know you definately know the best thing for Elvis....keep us updated on the progress.....
Hope your tail doesn't hurt Elvis......your such a handsome young man ya know..... :D
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