The Puffer Forum

Seems my GSP has a case of Ich. Or that's what it looks like, White spots on most of his body. I have him in brackish water, 1TBSP/5gal and have tried treating with fresh water ich medication, Jungle Ich Clear, then after a water change, Mardel - Maracide, and Maracyn. Both which have worked very well in the past with newly acquired fresh water fish. Neither has been effective. I know that salt aquariums can be treated with copper meds. Has anyone used this with a GSP? Any other recommendations.
One note, he is eating well and acting normal to this point.

Thanks
John

What size tank is he in? I do not recommend copper because puffers are over sensitive to medications as is. How long have you been treating with the other medications?

1 TBSP/5 gallon is an insignificant amount of salt. What SG is the tank at? I takes about 1 cup of salt to raise 5g of water to SG 1.005.

Do the white spots look like grains of salt? Or are they smaller like pinheads? Have you noticed any of the spots move? If they are really small and don't move, it could be his spines showing.

If it is ick then slowly raising the Salinity of your water should remove it, as freshwater ick cannot tolerate saltwater, and saltwater ick cannot tolerate fresh...

get a hydrometer, raise it by 1.002 a week starting today.. using MARINE salt.