Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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.
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

Walrus Head wrote:
LilGreenPuffer wrote:Sounds like a fungus to me. I couldn't see diddly-squat in the video, though. Treat with Pimafix and Melafix, or, if you can't find those, move him into a hospital tank and treat with a stronger antibiotic. Keep his water conditions as perfect as is humanly possible.
in that video forward it to 33 Secs youll see a white spot under his gill and white stuff on his fin
its hard to take pictures he moves so fast i wanna grab him and hold him still GRRR
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

LilGreenPuffer wrote:If that was it, then I'm still guessing fungus.
So the best stuff is primafix??
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: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

There's no R. It's just Pimafix. Yes, Pimafix is good for fungal infections.
"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!
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

LilGreenPuffer wrote:There's no R. It's just Pimafix. Yes, Pimafix is good for fungal infections.
Ive got a multipurpose AntiFungal Solution which has Malachite Green, Formaldehyde and Copper Sulphate in it! Are any of those chemicals harmful to pufferfish??
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Walrus Head wrote:
LilGreenPuffer wrote:There's no R. It's just Pimafix. Yes, Pimafix is good for fungal infections.
Ive got a multipurpose AntiFungal Solution which has Malachite Green, Formaldehyde and Copper Sulphate in it! Are any of those chemicals harmful to pufferfish??
Malachite green is a die and is harmful to any scale-less fish. Don't know about the formaldahyde, but copper is also harmful to scale-less fish. And yes, it is Pimafix. I don't know where, of if, I heard Primafix. Maybe that's just how I pronounced it. Now, I just read something about a bacterial infection that looks like cotton, and is VERY contaigious. I couldn't get a real good look, the site froze my computer, twice. Maybe treating with Melafix for bacterial infections, and then Pimafix for fungus would be the best.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

Lil' Swimz$ wrote:
Walrus Head wrote:
LilGreenPuffer wrote:There's no R. It's just Pimafix. Yes, Pimafix is good for fungal infections.
Ive got a multipurpose AntiFungal Solution which has Malachite Green, Formaldehyde and Copper Sulphate in it! Are any of those chemicals harmful to pufferfish??
Malachite green is a die and is harmful to any scale-less fish. Don't know about the formaldahyde, but copper is also harmful to scale-less fish. And yes, it is Pimafix. I don't know where, of if, I heard Primafix. Maybe that's just how I pronounced it. Now, I just read something about a bacterial infection that looks like cotton, and is VERY contaigious. I couldn't get a real good look, the site froze my computer, twice. Maybe treating with Melafix for bacterial infections, and then Pimafix for fungus would be the best.
thx mate... Ill get on it tomorrow. when i start treatingif it is bact /fungal infection when can you expect it to start clearing up ??
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Its not going to be gone the next morning, but within 4-5 days it should be cleared up, if it is a bacterial infection or fungus. You know, I actually think you can use both at the same time, but you may want to wait until LilGreenPuffer gets back on this. Otherwise you'll have to wait a week or so inbetween treatments. Okay, this is what the back of the Melafix body says, Dose daily for 7 days. After 7 day's do a 50% (edited from 25% to 50% for good measure, and you've got a puffer). Treatment can be continued if neccesary. (And I'd only say it is necessary if it was going away, but if nothing happened start the Pimafix treatment.) Good luck to ya! Oh, and both the Melafix and Pimafix are $5, atleast that's how much I bought them for.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

Lil' Swimz$ wrote:Its not going to be gone the next morning, but within 4-5 days it should be cleared up, if it is a bacterial infection or fungus. You know, I actually think you can use both at the same time, but you may want to wait until LilGreenPuffer gets back on this. Otherwise you'll have to wait a week or so inbetween treatments. Okay, this is what the back of the Melafix body says, Dose daily for 7 days. After 7 day's do a 50% (edited from 25% to 50% for good measure, and you've got a puffer). Treatment can be continued if neccesary. (And I'd only say it is necessary if it was going away, but if nothing happened start the Pimafix treatment.) Good luck to ya! Oh, and both the Melafix and Pimafix are $5, atleast that's how much I bought them for.
$5 wow for what ml size bottle? in UK its tarp expensive for nitrite test is about $14, and the pimafix might be summin like $18 RIPOFF but yeh puffer is worth it
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

$18 for a bottle of Pimafix?? Wow, that is a ripoff. The Melafix bottle is 237 ml.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
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: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by LilGreenPuffer »

I got 6" bottles for about $5 each. You can use Mela and Pima at the same time. If you have a skimmer, you will want to get some Melafix Marine. Regular Melafix will make skimmers bubble over.
Walrus Head wrote:
LilGreenPuffer wrote:There's no R. It's just Pimafix. Yes, Pimafix is good for fungal infections.
Ive got a multipurpose AntiFungal Solution which has Malachite Green, Formaldehyde and Copper Sulphate in it! Are any of those chemicals harmful to pufferfish??
Dear GOD! Lil Swimz is 100% right - these are all highly, highly toxic to puffers, and they're very risky for many other fish, too. In fact, formaldehyde is what they used to use to preserve dead animals for dissection. Eeeeewww. Stick with the 'Fixes.
"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!
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

I used "Ich Away" once in my community tank and it killed all my fish.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Forgot my point, the "Ich Away" had all three of those.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
User avatar
mrgreen
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 983
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:17 pm
Gender: Female
My Puffers: 1 dwarf puffer: Squirt
2 figure 8s: Escalator & Elevator
Location (country): United States
Location: Michigan, USA
Contact:

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by mrgreen »

Yup! I was reading this thread today while I was in the car but couldn't reply. Formaldahyde is for preserving dead things! The other things are also very toxic, but unless you're out to preserve your dead fish, don't use that stuff!
"Puffs puff cuz they're puffs cuz they puff cuz they're puffs. - Nathan age 12
User avatar
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: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Pufferpunk »

Lets hope it's just fungal & not vibro, which is a certain death. You'll have to turn off your skimmer during treatment with any of the "fixes" & may still see a ton of bubbles with either product in SW.
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!"
Black Widow

Re: Porcupine with strange white formations on skin??

Post by Black Widow »

ok turned off skimmer gonna apply pimafix now! Hes the only fish in the SW tank apart from 2 hermit crabs.
I got another question if say I had to use melafix would it kill all the bacteria in my external filter tooo ???
Post Reply