Quarantine tank 60l. 60 by 30 by 30 cm approx. Mature internal power filter, Ammonia 0, nitrite 0 , nitrate 5ppm or was before 100% change 24 hrs ago. Temp 25C. Tank kept cylced by addition of food before 100% change. S.G. 1.004.
I bought another (2 cm) GSP today, it seems to have a bite mark above it's pectoral fin on the upper left side. It's infected with stringy fungus and there is another circular array of fungus surrounding the bite mark.
I would like to ask for a treatment plan, please? I was planning on using either Tea tree or Phenoxyethanol?
It's just in as 'clean' water as i can do for now...
There is a 240l tank sitting MT for this and the other GSP, I have to go full marine, btw...
Extra BTW: youngest step child may be overcoming his fear and going on a mini- moto tm. A blata, no less!
GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
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.
-
soggydrysuit
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bigfatfish
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Pimafix is a good natural treatment for fungal conditions.
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soggydrysuit
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Many thanks, BFF.
OK, I 'll petition the wife, already had five bags of live food and a bucket of salt today...
I do have raw Tea tree oil, but I hesitate to use it on a new in my care and potentially sensitive fish.
Is 2-Phenoxyethanol harmful to puffers? That's in 'King British' Fin Rot and Fungus Control @ 5.66%..
Poor thing may be injured, but it's demolishesd two bags of live food (brine) and I saw it eat a cube of blood worm in the shop. There's snails in a fw tank upstairs for it...
I'll just have to keep the water pristine and hope.
'gulp'
OK, I 'll petition the wife, already had five bags of live food and a bucket of salt today...
I do have raw Tea tree oil, but I hesitate to use it on a new in my care and potentially sensitive fish.
Is 2-Phenoxyethanol harmful to puffers? That's in 'King British' Fin Rot and Fungus Control @ 5.66%..
Poor thing may be injured, but it's demolishesd two bags of live food (brine) and I saw it eat a cube of blood worm in the shop. There's snails in a fw tank upstairs for it...
I'll just have to keep the water pristine and hope.
'gulp'
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
I think Melafix works wonders ... but if your puffer appears to be breathing heavily, add some extra oxygen in (extra airstone).
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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soggydrysuit
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Thanks, PPG.
I just dropped an airstone in.
There's two air pumps next to the tank - one pump is going in direct through one airstone, the other is on the foam filter for the fw pipefish. The O2 drop when using Melafix is something I've moaned on about myself, so I am aware. Oddly, I would have dosed the GSP QT with no extra air if you hadn't reminded me. So thankyou
You are one amazing individual Just in general... 
Thanks
I just dropped an airstone in.
There's two air pumps next to the tank - one pump is going in direct through one airstone, the other is on the foam filter for the fw pipefish. The O2 drop when using Melafix is something I've moaned on about myself, so I am aware. Oddly, I would have dosed the GSP QT with no extra air if you hadn't reminded me. So thankyou
You are one amazing individual
Just in general... Thanks
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Pufferpunk
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Anything other than the natural remedies have a chance of crashing your biological bed.
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!"
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pufferpuggirl
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Well thank you Sir Soggy, nice of you to say! 
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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soggydrysuit
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- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Understood, PufferPunk : Will find some commercial tea tree tm, instead of hazading my own conction of tea tree for this fish.
PPG: Well, you just are...!
You try to help anyone and anything,
and you still get shot at on here occasionally...
PP does not need help, but she has my respect!
PPG: Well, you just are...!
You try to help anyone and anything,
and you still get shot at on here occasionally...
PP does not need help, but she has my respect!
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pufferpuggirl
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Rainbow crab
crayfish - Location (country): Yorkshire, GB
- Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
I actually enjoy helping people, makes me feel good, and sort of a repayment for all the help this forum has given me. 
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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soggydrysuit
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Current non-puffers:
Enough for people to think I'm a loonie :-) - Location (country): UK
- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Well, it's still alive and behaving as though there was no wound. Eating well and very alert, tail fanned out.
I'm treating daily with Melafix, and will do a 50% change in a mo to hoover out any uneaten food behind the decor (plastic plants, roots and flower pots).
It looks like a nasty bite, but does look quite old - no new fungus, the stringy bits fell off. It (the bite area) looks pinched and shrunken so I hope that's a sign of healing. On the other hand the bite area looks grey.
Looks like the wound extends through the skin - survivable?
Maybe, I should go and get the last one and treat them at the same time but in different tanks (there's a 90l MT)?! I'd like to but don't really have the space unless I keep nothing but Puffers
I'm treating daily with Melafix, and will do a 50% change in a mo to hoover out any uneaten food behind the decor (plastic plants, roots and flower pots).
It looks like a nasty bite, but does look quite old - no new fungus, the stringy bits fell off. It (the bite area) looks pinched and shrunken so I hope that's a sign of healing. On the other hand the bite area looks grey.
Looks like the wound extends through the skin - survivable?
Maybe, I should go and get the last one and treat them at the same time but in different tanks (there's a 90l MT)?! I'd like to but don't really have the space unless I keep nothing but Puffers
-
soggydrysuit
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:36 am
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1x C. irrubesco
2 x T. nigroviridis
1 x T. ocellatus
Current non-puffers:
Enough for people to think I'm a loonie :-) - Location (country): UK
- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Just like to say: thanks for all of your help
I've christened this one the 'Manky Puff' for now...
I've christened this one the 'Manky Puff' for now...
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soggydrysuit
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 541
- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:36 am
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- My Puffers: 2x T.fluviatilis
1x C. irrubesco
2 x T. nigroviridis
1 x T. ocellatus
Current non-puffers:
Enough for people to think I'm a loonie :-) - Location (country): UK
- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Hi all, could someone have a look a my bitten GSP's wound please? How long do these thing take to heal? I know it was a deep wound, dark grey, is now shallower and lighter in colour. I just don't want this one keeling over on me!
Tank 60l QT, s.g 1.004, temp 25C, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate up to 20ppm. Two 50% water changes per week with gravel hoovering. Food: vit enriched mysis, small earthworms, snails.
Treatment: Melafix, daily.
GSP behaviour: perky, tail fanned, feeding well.
Tank 60l QT, s.g 1.004, temp 25C, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate up to 20ppm. Two 50% water changes per week with gravel hoovering. Food: vit enriched mysis, small earthworms, snails.
Treatment: Melafix, daily.
GSP behaviour: perky, tail fanned, feeding well.
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Last edited by soggydrysuit on Sat May 08, 2010 5:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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soggydrysuit
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:36 am
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1x C. irrubesco
2 x T. nigroviridis
1 x T. ocellatus
Current non-puffers:
Enough for people to think I'm a loonie :-) - Location (country): UK
- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Tank shot: loads of cover, all plastic.
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pufferpuggirl
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Rainbow crab
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Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
If the bite mark is getting smaller and changing colour, then that's a good sign. I'm not certain what else you could do, other than what you are doing, to help things along. Melafix along with pristine water conditions is what I'd be doing, and if he seems okay eating and swimming, etc., then it would seem that he's healing.
I'm guessing it's taking a while to heal due to the deepness of the bite, deep tissue takes longer obviously.
I'm guessing it's taking a while to heal due to the deepness of the bite, deep tissue takes longer obviously.
"Puffer .... man's best friend?"
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soggydrysuit
- Fahaka Puffer
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1x C. irrubesco
2 x T. nigroviridis
1 x T. ocellatus
Current non-puffers:
Enough for people to think I'm a loonie :-) - Location (country): UK
- Location: Durham, UK
Re: GSP with bite induced fungus... treatment, please?
Many thanks, PPG
Not really like ich on rummy nose tetras, is it? Chuck in your malachite green etc and forget (it did work, BTW)...
This must have been a bite inflicted by another GSP as I'm sure you have twigged, at the lfs.
Looking at the anatomy of puffs, it's not suprising the time the healing is taking - you could use their skin for sand paper, so a pretty complex structure to rebuild. Two or three different structures.
I suppose in your and many other peoples experience, the puff of a different species did not survie the initial attack from another puffer?
Unless, unless, this is a bacterial ulcer? Again, have a look please? Does look like a bite to me and there were 20 of these in a 10g tank at the lfs.
All i think I can do is keep with the water changes, Melafix and good food...?
Not really like ich on rummy nose tetras, is it? Chuck in your malachite green etc and forget (it did work, BTW)...
This must have been a bite inflicted by another GSP as I'm sure you have twigged, at the lfs.
Looking at the anatomy of puffs, it's not suprising the time the healing is taking - you could use their skin for sand paper, so a pretty complex structure to rebuild. Two or three different structures.
I suppose in your and many other peoples experience, the puff of a different species did not survie the initial attack from another puffer?
Unless, unless, this is a bacterial ulcer? Again, have a look please? Does look like a bite to me and there were 20 of these in a 10g tank at the lfs.
All i think I can do is keep with the water changes, Melafix and good food...?