The Puffer Forum

Hi im new to the forum and also new to puffers, just got myself a fahaka not too long ago about almost a month.

water seems to be 0 ammonia 0 nitrite and 10 nitrate.

my puffer seems to have lp's and i was wondering since puffers are scaleless. is it safe to the use the amount like the box instruction says; 1 tab per 10 gallon. since they are scaleless i really got no clue if it should be reduce in half or will it be safe? plus i can't find jungle parasite clear tab anywhere, im having trouble finding it. haven't checked wal-mart and petsmart yet, i don't know if they'll carry it. and also should i remove the activated carbon when i use it?

another thing i see is this white round ball very light yellowish but more toward white, and by its left fin hanging on the bottom, looks like its going to fall off but it never does. what is this thing really? is it a bacterial or parasite? or is it really safe? and if its a parasite or bacterial, what do i need to get to clear it or will jungle tab works

Hey,
You can use the full dose of Parasite Clear on your Puffers, I did with no problem. Petsmart and Petco both carry Jungle Tab Parasite Clear. You should take the carbon out of your filter. I'm not sure about the round ball you described. My Puffer has parasites now and his waste is white and string-like.

Yea, definately do not use less than the full dose for a puffer. Most of the information saying to use half doses of meds for sensitive fish come from the fact that tetras react poorly to malachite green, one of the active ingredients in quick cure and other ich meds.

can anyone identify what is this round white yellowish ball hanging from its left fin???

It's possible, though not certain, that it could be done with a very clear closeup photo.

i'll try to get a pic of it soon. but today i checked this morning and its poo were dark brown and and thick and not white and stringy with balls after another like before. but i been feeding earth worms and i don't know if it still contains lp's or not. does the color of the food changes the color of the poo and the look of it?

Yes, food changes the consistency of poo. Worms generally give some dark, rich poo.

so does it still have string with ball after if it had lp's?

If it's just connected balls, thin spots are normal. If the poo is a mass of waxy strings, it's bad.

all i see is one thick regular looking poo that is dark brown...no string and balls but still not sure if my fahaka still contains lp's

If you are getting big poos, and he gains weight over time, you're probably IP free.

woohoo! but do you think i should treat it just incase??? or would that be a bad idea?

Only if he doesn't gain weight properly or empties out too fast. Protozoan parasites give white poo most consitently, but camalanus worms and other literal worms may not always manifest like that as clearly, especially if the infection isn't so late that the worms are getting all the food. With ONLY white poo, I'd still treat, even if the puffer wasn't too skinny, but if the puffer has normal poo, holds his belly for a good length of time, and gains weight, I probably would skip it unless adding the puffer to a tank with other puffers. In mixed tanks a precautionary run of meds is probably in the best interest of all fish involved, but I don't see that as being an issue in this case.