I just purchased a puffer at a discount price due to a purple coloration on the rear dorsal side of the puffer. The store manager was't sure what the problem was since the puffer doesn't show any respiration problems and readily follows a finger out of curiosity. He also said the puffer is eating (so he says), but he is not eating right now. I introduced him into my 55 gallon tank yesterday which has been successfully cycling for over a year with no problems. He does seem to be swimming properly with normal respiration. However, he does swim up and down the glass frequently (probably sees his reflection). I'm not sure, but the purple seems to be spreading. I'll have to watch it for a while, but does anyone know what this is so I know what I'm dealing with.
I posted a picture of the problem, but it isn't a picture of my puffer, it is someone elses puffer that had the same problem and he didn't get a response on a different forum. I don't think this is a bruise...
Puffer Turning Purple
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
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.
Read this before posting!!
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.
Puffer Turning Purple
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- 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:
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
I believe that looks like what is a horrible, fast moving, flesh-eating diesase that kills the puffer in a day or 2. I've never heard of a puffer come out of this. Your tank is now contaminated, so either bring it back to die or after it dies, toss everything, bleach everything & start your tank over. Sorry for such bad news on your 1st post. Best to only purchase healthy fish for now on & QT.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
It's a shame! He isn't showing any signs of being affected by the problem (at least not yet). Maybe there is still time. If it is bacterial, I assume I should lower the temp of the tank since bacteria love warmth. Could it be fungus instead (try topical malchite green)?
Has anyone had any luck with a fast acting antibiotic? Also, i assume freshwater dips won't work since it isn't parasitic, but I heard that freshwater dips and/or hypo treatment is almost a "cure all." Please, I don't want to give up on this guy, he seems like he still has a personality and yearning or help.
BTW: 0 nh3, 1.024, 8.5ph, 55gallon.
Has anyone had any luck with a fast acting antibiotic? Also, i assume freshwater dips won't work since it isn't parasitic, but I heard that freshwater dips and/or hypo treatment is almost a "cure all." Please, I don't want to give up on this guy, he seems like he still has a personality and yearning or help.
BTW: 0 nh3, 1.024, 8.5ph, 55gallon.
-
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: Puffer Turning Purple
The disease is call Vibrio. It's a killer. Sorry.
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/
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/
-
Agnate
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1203
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:44 pm
- My Puffers: -
1 Abei Puffer [Monotrete Abei]
(Captain Abe) - Location: Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
Yikes! I'm so sorry to hear this. 
Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
- Paul
40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
5 gallon - 1 Betta (Frederico)
-
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:
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
from the litature i can find on that disease it's not good for humans either.....be very careful when your working in that tank not to have an open wound on you.....
and if i were you i'd take that fish back to where you bought it and then completely tear that tank down and bleach it well....not knowing which bacterium of this disease it's just not worth taking a chance on....
i'm so sorry about your little finned friend....
and if i were you i'd take that fish back to where you bought it and then completely tear that tank down and bleach it well....not knowing which bacterium of this disease it's just not worth taking a chance on....
i'm so sorry about your little finned friend....
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
I'm doing what I can, but he is now resting on the bottom in a crevice between the decorations. I love giving broken animals a chance, I just wish I could do something more for this guy. Maybe I'll get lucky, who knows, but it doensn't look good. Its a shame because he's a softball sized "cute" porker.
-
Sponge bob
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:50 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): United States of America, North America
- Location: Long Island, New york
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
OH GOD. I have a picture of one like that but its on its face. Really bad and graphic.
Tell me if you wanna see it.
Tell me if you wanna see it.
-
Sponge bob
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:50 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): United States of America, North America
- Location: Long Island, New york
-
puffertt77
- Suspended
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:19 pm
- My Puffers: Mbu Puffer named Naboo
South American Puffer named Bollo RIP :(
3 Dwarf Puffers yet to be named
Red Eye Red Tailed Puffer - Returned to LFS for being to vicious
Porky the Porcupine
Pup the Dogface - Location: London
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
That's such a sad pictureSponge bob wrote:ug.php/v/User_Galleries/Sponge+bob/BMX+ ... 6.jpg.html
Heres the link
-
Sponge bob
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:50 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location (country): United States of America, North America
- Location: Long Island, New york
-
Corvus
- Mentor
- Posts: 1405
- Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:35 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Planet earth; mostly Germany recently
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
Try a combined therapy of Maracyn and Maracyn II in a hospital setup or as 10-20times overdosed half hour baths.
The problem with this Vibrio sp. infection is that almost never real antibiotics are used in the early stage (which would be day 1).
A large UV sterilizer with a slow flow and feeding high vitamin food as well as high oxygen (esp. by surface current, 30 times tank volume per hour, no skimming while treating) can support the treatment.
There are many diffeent Vibrio spp. with very variable symptoms, the most commonly known affecting humans is cholera. I *guess* Cholera meds may have an influence on the fish Vibrio species, too. Anyway, don't grab into the aquarum with wounds and clean your hands thoroughly after contact with the fish or its water.
Another imporant Vibrio species (obviously not the one of this infection) is thought by some scientists to live in symbiosis with puffers and to produce their tetrodotoxin poison.
The problem with this Vibrio sp. infection is that almost never real antibiotics are used in the early stage (which would be day 1).
A large UV sterilizer with a slow flow and feeding high vitamin food as well as high oxygen (esp. by surface current, 30 times tank volume per hour, no skimming while treating) can support the treatment.
There are many diffeent Vibrio spp. with very variable symptoms, the most commonly known affecting humans is cholera. I *guess* Cholera meds may have an influence on the fish Vibrio species, too. Anyway, don't grab into the aquarum with wounds and clean your hands thoroughly after contact with the fish or its water.
Another imporant Vibrio species (obviously not the one of this infection) is thought by some scientists to live in symbiosis with puffers and to produce their tetrodotoxin poison.
Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks.
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
Well, my puffer died almost a few days after posting the aformentioned information. However, if my luck couldn't get worse, my puffer "in a different tank" now has the same disease. I found out today when he was swimming near the top of the tank! I was so careful not to contaminate the other puffer's tank, but somehow it happened. Maybe some of this disease was underneath my finernails or something, so I can definitely tell you that it is EXTREMELY contageous! Regardless, I moved this puffer out of the 30 gallon and now into a 10 gallon hospital. I don't want to lose this one too! His eye is getting a little cloudy too.
Anyway, I am using Para Guard, cleaned and moved the heater into the 10 gallon and a new airstone. My UV sterilizer is on my freshwater tank, so that's out of the question for now. Any other ideas? Freshwater dip maybe...
Oh, hopefully this teaches others a lesson: DON'T BUY FISH THAT DON'T LOOK HEALTHY AND QUARANTINE EVERYTHING BEFORE INTRODUCING THEM! Even washing hands before tending to the other tank wasn't enough. Anyway, I was lazy and look what's happening (an epidemic). My 2 year old puffer is now probably going to die. The little guy looks so stressed now, but at least his water is new and hopefully untainted.
Anyway, I am using Para Guard, cleaned and moved the heater into the 10 gallon and a new airstone. My UV sterilizer is on my freshwater tank, so that's out of the question for now. Any other ideas? Freshwater dip maybe...
Oh, hopefully this teaches others a lesson: DON'T BUY FISH THAT DON'T LOOK HEALTHY AND QUARANTINE EVERYTHING BEFORE INTRODUCING THEM! Even washing hands before tending to the other tank wasn't enough. Anyway, I was lazy and look what's happening (an epidemic). My 2 year old puffer is now probably going to die. The little guy looks so stressed now, but at least his water is new and hopefully untainted.
-
busybones
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 12:46 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: ******
(1)T. lineatus-Fahaka~Pookie 125 gal
(1)M. turgidus- Brown Puffer~Rowdy 30 gal
(1)T.nigroviridis-GSP~ 55 gal - Location (country): USA
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
Wow this is so awful I'm sorry your having so much trouble and I hope your other puffer makes it.
I'm sorry your having so much trouble and I hope your other puffer makes it.
Re: Puffer Turning Purple
Yea, the family want's to call it quits with salt water now. Nothing but bad luck and bad decisions. Unless you have the time to dedicate, it's not worth it. Everyone gets so attached to the fish and we'll miss him spitting water at us when it's time to feed him. We might try one more time, but I'm not sure.
I don't know why the store would sell us a fish and say that the purple problem was a bruise when they knew damn well that the bruise was a disease (I didn't know, never seen this disease before). I guess I was a sucker and felt bad for the the first puffer that died hoping that I could nurse him back to health and now I'm losing my 2yr old veteran.
Anyone have any ideas for online fish ordering? I've had such bad luck locally that I might try the online thing this time. Else, I will just have to go diving and get my own.
I don't know why the store would sell us a fish and say that the purple problem was a bruise when they knew damn well that the bruise was a disease (I didn't know, never seen this disease before). I guess I was a sucker and felt bad for the the first puffer that died hoping that I could nurse him back to health and now I'm losing my 2yr old veteran.
Anyone have any ideas for online fish ordering? I've had such bad luck locally that I might try the online thing this time. Else, I will just have to go diving and get my own.