can puffers get ick?
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.
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jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
can puffers get ick?
I am almost certain my gps has come down with a case of Ick. I am a little unfamilur on how to treat without aquarium salt or super Ick cure at 50% dosage, options? Last time I treated my tank with 50% super Ick cure every 48 hours, water changes every other day with tank temp at 86, would this option work for the puffer as well?
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder
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El Scorpio
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 534
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2010 12:11 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: none, at the moment...
- Location (country): Louisville, KY.
Re: can puffers get ick?
Yes, puffers can get ich. Raising the temperature and water changes are good to do during an ich outbreak. Someone else more familiar with treating ich should chime in here any second now...
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landon
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:13 pm
- My Puffers: 75g-3 Tetraodon Biocellatus-Grip,Fang and Wolf
- Location (country): Ohio,USA
- Location: Ohio
Re: can puffers get ick?
i used stuff called ick guard II for scaleless fish as per directions and it worked well for my fig 8's but thats just me.
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.
J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
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bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: can puffers get ick?
Heat and salt is all you need search for rtrs salt and heat method
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
Re: can puffers get ick?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113
This is how to treat ich safely, no need to use harsh chemicals.
Could you give a bit more details?
I've moved this to the hospital, if you could answer the questions
This is how to treat ich safely, no need to use harsh chemicals.
Could you give a bit more details?
I've moved this to the hospital, if you could answer the questions
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jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
Re: can puffers get ick?
I slowly raised the temperature to 84-86 flashlight, added a small dose of super ick cure until I could figure out what to do.
ammonia is 0, nitrate nitrites are both 0, PH 7
I had a bad ick outbreak a few weeks back in my large tank, same symptoms.
the table salt is safe?
ammonia is 0, nitrate nitrites are both 0, PH 7
I had a bad ick outbreak a few weeks back in my large tank, same symptoms.
the table salt is safe?
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder
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bertie 83
- Moderator
- Posts: 5298
- Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
- Location: brighton , england
Re: can puffers get ick?
Add carbon and do a large waterchange to get rid of those meds. I have heard table salt is fine but would not put it in my tank, i used marine salt
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
Re: can puffers get ick?
+1. Those medications can kill your puffer, get it out of the water.
Please follow the link I posted above.
Please follow the link I posted above.
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jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
Re: can puffers get ick?
I read the link and added my carbon back in, just wanted to confirm with the table salt before I proceed.
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder
-
sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
-
jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
Re: can puffers get ick?
alright, salt added and temperature is bouncing between 85 and 84, I would go to 86 but I lost the tubing to my air stone and don't feel comfortable going that high without the added oxygen. Amazing how quickly this illness appears and disappears from one day to the next.
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder
-
sevenyearnight
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 1894
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:41 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: T. nigroviridis
Balki Bartokomous - Location (country): USA
- Location: South Carolina
Re: can puffers get ick?
If you're following that link, you're temperature should be 80 - 84. Especially without extra aeration, 85 is too high. This affects the gills, you don't want to suffocate him.
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jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
Re: can puffers get ick?
I'm trying to keep it at 84, I might just disconnect my snail tank for a few days and use the tubing for the air stone connected to the coral display in the tank. The heater came with the tank and isnt the easiest to keep at a steady temperature, I'll replace with a better one tomorrow.
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder
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Dadof4
- Tech Team
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- Location (country): United States
- Location: North Wisconsin
Re: can puffers get ick?
Yeah, best to get the meds out of there. The issue with puffers is that they have no gill plates, along with lack of scales. They have a quicker uptake of meds vs other fish. Most meds that claim to be safe for inverts and sensitive fish are hogwash in general, they only treat part of the ich cycle and weakly at that. It will kill the ich on the fish and gills but does not kill what is on the substrate or in the water column (depending on what part of the cycle). Seven to ten days (like most meds claim) is not enough time eliminate ich, you need a full 30 day treatment per RTR's ich article.
"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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jenrkit84
- Figure 8 Puffer
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 9:08 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: 30 Gallon Setup (upgrade coming soon)
1 GSP Puffer - Duma - 2"
6.7 Gallon Setup
2 Dwarf Puffers - less than .5"
75 Gallon Setup
2 Pink Gouramis
1 Dwarf Powder Blue Gouramis
1 Dwarf Neon Gouramis
2 Balla Sharks
4 Upsidedown Catfish
2 African Butterfly Fish
4 Kuli Loaches
1 Peacock Eel - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA - PA
- Contact:
Re: can puffers get ick?
Checked on the little bugger this morning, WOW was it super active and super bright green, have not seen this color on it yet and the ick was already less than yesterday, so this is a good sign.
I am still going to stop at my LFS to pick up another tube to connect to the airstone for a few days, this setup I have going for it is temporary, not the tank, just the location and filtration. I'd rather have it sitting on a stand with a canister filer than shoved in the middle of my clothes dresser with a power filter, canisters IMO do better with salt water.
Hoping this little bugger gets better soon!
I am still going to stop at my LFS to pick up another tube to connect to the airstone for a few days, this setup I have going for it is temporary, not the tank, just the location and filtration. I'd rather have it sitting on a stand with a canister filer than shoved in the middle of my clothes dresser with a power filter, canisters IMO do better with salt water.
Hoping this little bugger gets better soon!
Hi, My name is Jen and I am a OPCD addict, Obsessive Puffer Compulsive Disorder