The Puffer Forum

I just noticed during feeding time that one of my puffers had a blister like bump on the tail fin... the bump itself looks white and is on the fin right in the middle... any suggestion as to what i should do? it still eats and swims with no problems... doesnt seem like it is bothering it though...

water parameters are all good and salinity is at 1.012

Thanks

Can you take/post a pic?

It might be a node caused by previous fin damage and subsequent regrowth. But this is just speculation; a picture would be the way to approach an accurate diagnosis.

I'll get a pic of it tonight once i get home from work.

Also its not bothering it when fanning out the fin though

pic added

That's a tough one, the photo doesn't help much... In person, can you see whether there are multiple "veins" branching out from that spot? I'm leaning toward the "node" theory because it is simplest and that picture does not appear to match any bacterial or fungal symptom I am aware of. If this is a juvenile fish that would lend furhter weight to the likelihood. This spot did not develop while the fish was under your care, did it?

nope no red viens anywhere... it was wasnt there for the past couple of months since i had it... the previous owner has kept them for a year or two i think... the white spot looks almost like a pimple i just noticed it yesterday during feeding... i just did a 30% water change on Friday

By "veins" I mean the white cartilage fin support type things that fan out from the base of the fin. Often times if these are damaged there will be a small node where the fin has healed, sometimes accompanied by growth abnormalities in the vein structure...

Anyway the best advice I can offer is monitor closely. If it changes or if you notice any spots appearing elsewhere on the fish, it's time for action. Sounds like the fish is doing fine though...?

i didnt notice that the fin was damaged before hand.... but it is still eating with the same appetite, swins without any problems and it still fans out the fin like it usually would...

i have some primafix and melafix... would you suggest adding it in?

No, I wouldn't add Melafix or Pimafix... Given the facts so far there is no cause for concern. You don't see any other dots like this elsewhere, right?

Okay one other consideration, is the bump smooth/rounded?

Have you asked the previous owner about it?

nope just on that one spot... nowhere else...

it looks like a combination of 2 round bumps though...

i cant get in touch with the previous owner because she moved to out to the west coast (rogue was the previous owner) and have lost all contact with her.

I'm just really nervous about this because before the two that i have from her... i had two that i didnt properly take care of due to not know... so the board has taught me a lot...

the smaller puffers beak needs trimming i've done it once already but i didnt take enough off though... so i will be getting around to that again very soon

My scat has two similar looking spots on his side, but I know his are just blisters from sitting against the heater. (stupid thing)

Whenever I'm in doubt, I add Melafix. If after a week it's still there, I wouldn't worry about it. Some of my puffers have gotten similar marks & they wen't away eventually.

whew! thanks for the suggestions everyone! i will continue to keep a close look on it... the fish is fine and i will keep everyone posted

Asuran wrote:whew! thanks for the suggestions everyone! i will continue to keep a close look on it... the fish is fine and i will keep everyone posted

How's the puffer doing now?