Fahaka in need...

[Reaperpilot2014]

I received an email from a friend just now that left me stumped, so I thought I would bring it here and see what I could get for her. I have permission to do this. Just to clarify, the treatment she is referring to is salt, heat, and herbal ich attack combined. Pimafix was also used. The puffer in question is an 8" Fahaka kept in a 75 gallon tank.

"I know I've asked you about ick loads of times, but I have a problem(maybe?) that's got me worried. I treated my tank for 14 days, and haven't seen any new spots. Princess still has ick spots on her fins. They are the same ones that were there over a week ago, I'm sure of it! They haven't gown any larger, and look like newer spots do, except they've been there for 8 or 9 days now in the exact same places. There are only 5 of them that I can find, but it still has me worried. I haven't turned the heat back down from 82, so all of the ick should be dead right? If for some reason I have ick that wont go away even with 2 weeks of treatment, I don't know what to do!"

That's the most important part of the email. Ideas of what the spots could be? It does seem strange that the same spots would remain unchanged for so long. She did have the water up at 86 F degrees at one point. Can ich die while still encapsulated within the mucous membrane? If that is the case then there is really nothing to worry about as the Fahaka will eventually shed it. Anyway, thoughts are appreciated.

[Flutter]

Yes, it's likely scars though she should continue treatment for another 2 weeks.

[sevenyearnight]

They could be scars, they may or may not go away with time. Were they there when she got him? Ask her to continue the treatment fot the full 28 days and just continue to monitor the spots. Sometimes they take longer to fall off, but also since it primarily attacks the gills, you won't see most of them.
Monitor his respiration, and if he is having trouble breathing, she can take the temp down to 80°.

[Reaperpilot2014]

I already told her to continue treatment when she first emailed me, just in case. These were the spots that led her to begin treatment, and were not present when she got him. I guess I didn't know they would leave scars on the fins like that.

[Reaperpilot2014]

Another friend and puffer lover from Idaho just had a tragedy with his Mbu. Starting another thread on that now. I wish people would make sure their housing requirements are met before getting a puffer. This Fahaka is still in a 75 gallon tank, and the Mbu ate a glass thermometer...

[sevenyearnight]

They can, hopefully the melafix will help reduce them.

[Reaperpilot2014]

Good to know. She stopped using the melafix when it ran out. I'll tell her to go buy some more and try treating again.

[Pufferpunk]

I agree--it may be a secondary infection from the Ich & not iIh at all. Melafix. Also, Ich treatment should be continued for 2 weeks after the last spot is gone

[Reaperpilot2014]

Awesome, it looks like she's good to go then. I think that is the main reason the concern even came up, was because she was thinking that the last spot should have been gone a week ago. Even while she works on that, I'm going to take this opportunity to impress on her the need for a 125g+ tank... *smiles mischievously*

[sevenyearnight]

Good plan!