The Puffer Forum

If they look like salt crystals, it does sound like ich - especially if they're on the fins, too.

If the spots are evenly spaced, though, it could well be the spines.

Lots of vacuuming (daily), up the temp another degree or two if you can (might want to drop in a bubbler to increase surface agitation and increase oxygenation).

A freshwater dip is a treatment for saltwater ich. Your SG is rather high to have any surviving FW ich.

How long have you had the figure 8? If he's pretty new to your tank, it could just be early in the ich cycle and the temp and salt will take care of things.

Eric

i have had him for about a month and a half, he is happy and healthy....eating, active. i just took a closer look, and the spots are super super tiny and they appear to be evenly spaced along his back... nothing on the fins.. what do you think?

A freshwater dip is when you take your fishy and put them in freshwater for a little bit. The change in salinity should kill off the salt water ich.

How lond have you had him? I agree with jayhawk that it sounds like it's still early in the ich cycle.

just keep doing what you are doing and watch for changes.

i should dig up my pictures that compare spines to ich...

I think you're treating spines! I'd slowly lower the temperature, decrease the SG at the next water change back to your 1.008, and just keep an eye on him.

If you've not kept a fish with spines before, they do look like early ich.

Eric

here we see the spines on the tummy




here we see the spines/white spots on the top




and here we see ich.

oh jeez! im an idiot... ok explain spines please...

ok charlie looks like lucky #2, so, again, im an idiot then or what??!?!??!

no no, you're not an idiot. you tried to solve a situation, and sought out more information. that's good fishkeeping.

i should really keep those pictures handy and quiz anyone who posts about ich to make sure they are really dealing with ich. :p

BTW, did you say that your puff looks like the second picture?

the white spots look like his white spots, not his SPOTS SPOTS. i have an f8 for sure. ha!!
i have one more question then, if you sdont mind cause once i get started, im unstoppable.... hes about that size, 2" and hes in a 10 gallon -- but my 30 gallon that you helped me cycle a couple weeks ago is ready.. so, can i move him in with the same size GSP and hope they get along, or just leave him alone. im getting harrassed by friends that i should get him a friend... i keep telling them ALONE.. BUT NOT LONELY and they dont listen.. so now im feeling guilty, or something.

Don't cave to pressure!! Putting him into a bigger tank with another puffer may sound like a good idea, but think about it a little more...

1 GSP will need 30 gallons to themselves. They will also need marine conditions when they are grown.

1 F8 will need about 15 gallons to themselves. They prefer low end brackish conditions.

So you see, not really compatible in the long run.

ok one more.... sorry - if you remember i had cycled charlies tank with charlie in it, bad i know... but im bringing all the levels down... now im at:
ammo 0
ph 7.4 (whats bring this up?)
alk 80 (is this too low?)
nitrite 3.0 (adding prime and i added that bio spira last week, but still not at 0, constant water changes.. almost there!)
nitrate 20

and i feel bad for charlie, jeez... he's been through hell and back!!!!

Crushed coral/aragonite will help the pH. If you do a 90% water change and add the bio spira to your filter, you should see those nitrite readings much lower.

should i add it again then? the bio spira?