The Puffer Forum

My husband justed IMed me that the skin is flaking off my congo- just checked him at 6 am and didn't notice anything wrong. Feed him 1/2 a shrimp and he was happy. I'm not home to test the water but will as soon as I get home tonight. Just did a 50% WC on Sunday and everything was fine. Husband said it is along his back where is it flaking. Substrate is sand and I have had him for a month. Any ideas?

It could be sand stuck to his slime coat. Have a good look at him when you get home to see.

He has black sand in his tank- is an orange congo. Hope it is just that he scratched himself on some decor.
Just remembered I soaked his shrimp in Krodon Vitatrace for freshwater and Geltek Ultra Cure PX- did that with all the food for the puffers as a preventative- he has had Ultra CurePX before but not the vitamins.

Home- looks like his slime coat is peeling- water felt too water too- checked it- at 83F- turned down the heater and checked the water parameters- pH 6- yikes! ( 75% WC going right now), ammonia 0.25ppm, nitrites 0, nitrates 20. I also put some well rinsed crushed coral into the filter media basket just in case for the pH- don't know how that jumped, also found a piece of shrimp I missed taking out- probably cause the ammonia spike. Thinking of adding an air wand and a half dose of melafix just in case. He is up and around- still has a slight belly from feeding this morning- that's good

Definately Melafix.

Hoover is look much better today- no peeling slime coat, and now burying himself again- temp down to 77F and going to check the water when I get home again

Sounds like he's feeling better already.