Is it Ich?

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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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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Boxermom
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Post by Boxermom »

Nope not odd. I often catch it early with only one or two spots.
Tina

Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
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Rocker
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Post by Rocker »

Personally I wouldn't treat unless you are you are more certain of the condition. Puffers often get the odd 'spot' paticularily on their fins. They are just markings which sometimes tend to grow out.
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Boxermom
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Post by Boxermom »

He said it was raised though, IIRC.
Tina

Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
boomer
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Post by boomer »

Too late now, temperature is on its way up, salt has been added.

I am concerned even more now though....especially since he's a little more subdued than normal.

Here are some more pictures, pretty much showing the same thing.
Do i continue with treatment or not?

Image
Image
Image
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Rocker
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Post by Rocker »

How big is the spot?
How big is the puffer?
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boomer
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Post by boomer »

Puffer is just under a foot, bout 9" i'd say to be honest.
Spot is about 1mm...
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Myaj
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Post by Myaj »

That's pretty darn big to be an ich spot, isn't it?
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Fella
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Post by Fella »

A single spot like that i wouldn't assume is ich.

Fungal or perhaps bacterial. I wouldn't be sure. Either way i dont think boxermoms advice will do any harm regardless of if it is ich or not.
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Post by boomer »

So if it was bacterial or fungal would the salt kill it off?

Should i be thinking about treating tank with pimafix instead?

He is still eating well and is his usual self.
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Post by boomer »

Doubts over whether its ich still remain.
The spot is getting smaller and doesnt appear to be as raised. Almost looked like something oozing out of it last night :|
The Catfish are still clear. He is still eating and continues to be active.

I'll carry on with salt treatment, as i understand it this will pretty much kill any parasite that it may be... ??
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Boxermom
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Post by Boxermom »

Sounds like a good plan.
Tina

Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
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