The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

Just my luck, seems the new puffer I got had ich. I read that ich should look flat or flush against the surface of the skin, but this doesn't exactly match that description. Can someone confirm whether this is ich on a dp or not?





Thanks,

--Hans

I've also heard different reports on how to mix salt into an aquarium. One way said to mix it directly into the aquarium and stir it around, and another instructed to premix the salt in some tank water before slowly introducing it to the aquarium. The first says to directly pour the salt in because if you premix it, you lose the beneficial properties of salt because of chemical changes. Sounds strange to me...

Is that a SAP? They are very likely to get ich or even worse--velvet whenever they are stressed by a move. Read the article on treating ich in our Library. Yours looks like a very severe case. Be sure to add Melafix during the treatment, to help with the damage dome by the parasite.

No, that's just a dwarf puffer. I've started raising the temps and will begin adding salt tomorrow morning slowly.

Here's my plan of attacking ich, and any suggestions or feedback is greatly appreciated:

8 US gallon tank
2 cories, 2 otos, 2 amano shrimp, 1 tiger shrimp, and a boatload of MTS, moderately to heavily planted, low tech, no CO2 injection, using root tabs for ferts

- Raise temperature slowly to 86F and crank up the filter flow and surface movement for O2 transfer
- Add a total of 1 tablespoon of salt over 24 hours or so (adding the salt into the hang on back filter so it gets mixed before outputted into the aquarium)
- Keep that ratio of salinity for 10 days, while watching for signs of stress in fish
- lower temps and do a 40% water change to finish up treatment

Sound good?

I guess the thing that worries me is that the white dots don't seem flush with the skin. They seem raised. Anyone have a second opinion?

Ich is NEVER flush with the skin, it's raised, like salt sticking to food.

huh. I definitely thought I read in an info post somewhere that ich is raised, but I believe you. Thanks for the advice! Temp at 86F and currently adding a large pinch of salt every once in a while.

Edit: Huh, I just noticed that you seem to be the same person from dwarfpuffers.com

Yes, the cyst is raised. I would hasten to treat this infestatin ASAP and in addition, huge (80-90%) water changes daily, while cleaning the substrate. I'd also treat for & days after the cysts are gone. You can add the salt all at once. & replace after every water change. Don't forget the Melafix.

Alright, all the salt is in to the ratio of 1 tablespoon:5 US gallons. I did a water change yesterday already, I'll do one when it's been 24 hours. I'm not convinced of the melafix, however. I'll refer to this link:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine-fi ... -work.html
I've tried using melafix on an ailing betta before and all it does is stink up the water and it seems to mess with other natural balances in the tank...discuss though, I'm just a bit doubtful on it's usefulness.

I've been in the hobby for 30 years & swear by the stuff for FW fish.

agree with PP, melafix has done wonders on several sick FW fish i've had to deal with.

Ok, I'll put it in as prescribed by the bottle... 1mL:2 US Gallons

Now we play the waiting game....

Actually, the bottle says to dose it every day. Do you guys do that when treating for ich? Or just replace it as the water changes take it out?

also, I seem to be having trouble feeding him. He's not taking frozen bloodworms, live pond snails, or the abundance of MTS in the tank (though now that the puffer is in there, i don't see the MTS during the day much anymore. How do they know they're now being hunted?!). I see him once in a while attacking something on a plant, but don't really know if he's eating or not. He doesn't seem thin or have a sunken stomach like those with IP do. He's only been in the take for 2 days now, maybe he's still getting used to the tank?

Ich spots are gone, and continuing treatment for 3 more days. Trying to get rid of the melafix though, with water changes and carbon. that stuff makes the water smell terrible.