Hello I am new to the forum and am in need of a little advice. I have been growing out a Fahaka puffer (about 7in) in my 180gallon and noticed an abrasion or maybe infection on the bottom corner of his tail that has been there for about 2 weeks getting slightly worse. He is still eating and acting the same but I wanted to get some added information as I monitor it. I was wondering if this could happen when he burrows down in the sand. The am using a soft sand from CaribSea “Torpedo Beach”. Anyway, ill give all my parameters and photos and see what you guys think.
1)pH 7.6, ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10ppm
2)180gallon tank 2x2x6 with 1 Fahaka puffer and about 30 Rummynose and 30 Cardinals. I am running 2x FX5s and a smaller 407 running through a UV sterilizer all with spray bars.
3)Feed: snails, crayfish, shrimp, earthworms. Water changes about 40-50% once a week treated with Prime.
4)No real changes that I can think of other than maybe light placement to the front of the tank.
5)Tank has been set up for about 9 months and cycled.
Thank you for your time.
Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
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.
Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
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Pufferpunk
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burrfish
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Re: Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
Hi, It doesn't look too bad but I can see your concern if it's gotten worse. I would start with something mild, like Melafix. You could even apply it directly to his tail.
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: Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
Thank you for the reply.
How would I apply it right to the tail? I haven't handled a puffer out of water before is there certain things I should be aware of to limit stress or am I over thinking things.
Thanks again.
How would I apply it right to the tail? I haven't handled a puffer out of water before is there certain things I should be aware of to limit stress or am I over thinking things.
Thanks again.
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32866
- 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: Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
Hold the puffer still through the net & only lift the tail out of the water. You could also paint the tail's edge with mecurichrome.
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: Fahaka Abrasion or Possible infection?
Ok I managed to apply some right to the tail. Ill do multiple treatments.
I have trimmed discus fins in the past. Is this something that can be done with a puffer. I don't want to if they have nerves running threw their fins. Just wondering.
Thanks again for the reply.
I have trimmed discus fins in the past. Is this something that can be done with a puffer. I don't want to if they have nerves running threw their fins. Just wondering.
Thanks again for the reply.