The Puffer Forum

my GSP is sick with what looks like ick. i heard it's hard for marine fish to get ick, so i'm not sure, but that's what it looks like. the white salt crystal-like formations have spread to his fins. what can i do without killing all of the other things in the tank? i bought a heater from dr. fosters... maybe that will help?

this may be unrelated, but i came home late tonight and turned on the light, and i saw small bug-like things crawling all over the glass (they were about 2 mm long at the biggest). they literally look like tiny bugs, with about 6 legs and small antennae. i think they come out at night from the live rock and/or the sand... are they safe? they gave me the creeps.

here is my info:

water parameters: ammonia and pH are ok, i don't know about the rest
tank size: 45G
tankmates: an anemone, a few snails, a few hermits and a damselfish (which seems fine for now)
changes in tank: none, except a small horseshoe crab died (was eaten by puffer)
the aquarium has been set up for about 4 months, and i cycled it with live rock

It's not hard for marine fish to get Ich, they often get it when stressed or if the parasite is present in the tank.

What do you mean by the heater might help? What is the temperature of your water? Did you not previously have a heater?

You definately need to test for ALL water parameters. Id strongly recommend buying a full test kit. By ammonia being "ok" does that mean 0? What's your salinity?

As for the 'bugs' they are probably just pods. Do a search for copepods, they won't cause any problems.

Do you have a qt tank you can use?

There is an article in the library about treating Ich in marine. The ich parasite is like our biological bacteria, there's versions of it for every salinity.

And I agree, the "bugs" are probably just pods and perfectly safe. You're going to have lots of creepy stuff in a saltwater aquarium.

Keep an eye on that anemone, they are very sensitive and delicate animals, and it doesn't sound like your tank is mature or that you're watching your parameters very close at all.

Agree totallly about the anemone. Needs a 1yr established tank with perfect parameters.

Someone told me that you can't keep anemones in the same tank as other corals and such. Thats totally untrue right?

thanks for all of your responses! my ammonia level was 0 when i tested it but i will clean the tank tomorrow after work as a first step... can't hurt. i don't have a quarantine tank. i'll buy a full test kit as well... any suggestions for good ones you use and like?

thanks also for identifying the creepy crawlies in my tank. i wiki'ed them and they don't seem that scary anymore.

What do you mean by "clean" the tank? Please read the earlier recommended article on SW ich. Also, you really need to know those other parameters, when keeping a reef tank, including KH, Ca & Mag.

And make sure it's a liquid tester and not those test strips.

flamesofifreet wrote:Someone told me that you can't keep anemones in the same tank as other corals and such. Thats totally untrue right?

Yep, untrue. The only risk is that anemones move and can end up stinging other corals.

Thats what I thought. Thanks bonnie.

by "cleaning" i meant doing a 25% water change using my python vacuum. i did that, my water temp is at 83 degrees, and the ick seems to have subsided a bit. the white spots have decreased in numbers but i still see some small ones. i will read the article on marine ick. thanks for your help, everyone.

p.s. - i hadn't realized that i said "anemone". i meant abalone. i have a small abalone... seems to be doing just fine.

What was the temp before the heater?

the temperature was about 80. i've also been adding more garlic to my puffer's diet. i read that raising the temperature will speed up the life cycle of the ick, but is it normal to see white spots on the fins and head of my puffer in the morning, and then come home to a "clean" puffer (no white spots save one or two small ones) in the evening? i just ordered ick attack (organic ick meds?) so i plan on trying that out when it gets here... any suggestions before i do anything i might regret?

just wanted to give you guys an update. my puffer brutus has done a 180 and is well on his way to recovery sans medications. his cloudy eyes cleared up, i am doing 25% water changes every day in the QT, and he has an enormous appetite. i am supplementing his food with garlic and selcon (interchanging) and his belly has been bright white and his energy is back up. the temperature is at 83 degrees, and the salinity at 1.009. i bought a test kit and the water parameters are in the safe range. this is such a change from where he was a couple of weeks ago. i used to see white spots all over his head, eyes and fins every few days. he used to tuck his fins into his body and lay on the bottom of the bare-bottomed tank most of the day. he used to vomit his food after sucking it in. since a week and a half ago, i have stopped seeing spots altogether. i am hoping he will make a full recovery. go brutus!