The Puffer Forum

I added Melafix to my tank last night. I just remembered I had a bottle of it at home.

I did a 50% water change and realized I should have taken water tests prior to the change. I'll take the parameters tonight when I get home.

I dosed the tank a 2nd time this morning before I left for work this morning.

you took the carbon out of the filter right?

yea.. I removed the carbon. I had to leave town for a day and missed a dose yesterday. When I got back today, the left eye isnt clouded, however around the left eye, it looks like his skin peeled off. The right eye has some white fluffy stuff. When he started getting sick, the left eye was the first to get cloudy.

Water readings:
pH: 7.6
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5
Ammonia: 0 ppm

These readings are 3 days after a 50% water change. I am still dosing the tank with Melafix and will continue on to finish the treatment to thursday.

I am just emailing myself the pics i took with my iphone and will attach them

Here are the pics

I don't know much about it myself - but through a few google searches I've only come across a few things yet.

First thing, what all things have you tested for in your tank? What medications have you used in your tank?

I ask this because someone reported that skyrocketing pH can burn off the puffer's skin. Perhaps your pH is so high it's causing some damage to his eyes as well, causing cloudiness? Adding Melafix may have helped some, but not enough. If pH is the problem, perhaps adding driftwood or getting water from another source will be a solution. You said he's changed tanks - Moved from the office to home, correct? Perhaps he was acclimated to the pH at work or wherever he was - the new pH from your tap may be much higher causing the problems.

I ask about medications as well, because if you have added anything that may not be good for him, it may also cause the same types of burns.

Continue water changes, test your parameters - please keep us updated! I'm eager to hear.

He was moved this larger tank awhile ago. This tank was filled with 2 pieces of driftwood and lots of anubias plants. I have since taken them out because I had a purplish algae outbreak. I am currently treating the wood and plants in a rubbermaid container.

As for pH, its always been in the 7 range. Is 7.6 not ok?

The Melafix bottle says I need to treat for 7 days, then a 25% water change and then continue treatment if I need to.

7.6 is fine. I'd add 1 tbsp table salt/10g also. How is he now? If he's getting worse, you're going to have to add antibiotics.

Thanks for the replies all

The pics I posted above was just taken at that time.

I am also treating the tank with salt. I havent added any since the water change last week. I will add some tomorrow

What are the best antibiotics to get? During lunch I will make a stop at the LFS.

Start with Maracyn 1 & 2, to cover all bases. They won't hurt your biological bed (supposedly...).

MElafix = Magic in a bottle

So today when I got home, I went to dose the tank with some Melafix.

The skin that was loose on his head has fallen off, the white fluffy gross stuff that was sticking out of his right eye is gone. The cloud is almost all gone on the right eye. He seems happy since his colors are really bright. Hes usually really dark/black when I do water changes (hes pissed off)

Ill snap some pics with my iphone in a bit and post it up.

Lets hope his recovery keeps up.

On a side note, the driftwood and plants are almost ready to be added to the tank again. But I want to wait till he has completely healed and slowly add the anubias back in the tank.

Melafix really does work wonders, it's great stuff and no puffer-keeper should be without it. I'm glad to hear that your puffer is doing better, that's great news. I hope he continues to improve and gets back to good health.

Just thought I would give a quick update. Puffer is still recovering I hope. He doesnt have an appetite still. I throw some food in, and if its still there in 3 hours I take it out.

Water tests are good, and im added some salt in the tank along with the daily dose of melafix. I just burned through one bottle, and I have a brand new bottle to crack open tonight.

Try live earthworms.

Thanks I will try it tonight.

Last night he was sleeping a little weird, he was sleeping kinda tilted to the side. Today is actually the last day of the 7 day treatment of Melafix (thought it was thurs)

Will have to do a WC, treat the tank with salt and Melafix and see what happens.

The left eye that healed first is now white again, but this time not the cloudy. Its more like it cracked/popped. I will snap pics tonight.

Looks like things turned for the worst.

He is now just floating at the top of the tank. bobbing up and down. The left eye looks like it popped and its red. Do I need to put him down??

I am hoping to do a 25% WC (according to the Melafix bottle)