The Puffer Forum

My palembangensis has been in a 35 gallons for two months now. Since two weeks, I noticed a white spot on one of his sides. I was not sure what it was so I decided to wait and keep an eye on it (maybe a big mistake). Today, I noticed that there were two other little white spots and on the first spot (the bigger one), there is a kind of white string attached to it. So, I suppose it's a kind of parasite worm. The only med I have is melafix and pimafix and I'm think that it's not the right treatment.

My puffer came from the wild...

Overall, he seems OK! He swims and eats normally. He comes to see me when I go to his tank... The only different thing is that two weeks ago, I brought mealworms for him to know if he likes it and he does. So, I added it to his menu of snails and shrimps. I don't know if the mealworms can cause it...

My tank is running since 4 months and today is the water change so I'll take the water parameters. I do a 20-25% water change each week. I feed him every two or three days but I'm not sure yet how much to give him each time. So, I give him one or to two shrimps, or a dozen of snails or one or two mealworms.

So what can I do? What is the right treatment?

Thank you very much for your help! I don't write often on the forum but I read it almost every day. Thank you!

Mariaqua wrote:My palembangensis has been in a 35 gallons for two months now. Since two weeks, I noticed a white spot on one of his sides. I was not sure what it was so I decided to wait and keep an eye on it (maybe a big mistake). Today, I noticed that there were two other little white spots and on the first spot (the bigger one), there is a kind of white string attached to it. So, I suppose it's a kind of parasite worm. The only med I have is melafix and pimafix and I'm think that it's not the right treatment.

My puffer came from the wild...

Overall, he seems OK! He swims and eats normally. He comes to see me when I go to his tank... The only different thing is that two weeks ago, I brought mealworms for him to know if he likes it and he does. So, I added it to his menu of snails and shrimps. I don't know if the mealworms can cause it...

My tank is running since 4 months and today is the water change so I'll take the water parameters. I do a 20-25% water change each week. I feed him every two or three days but I'm not sure yet how much to give him each time. So, I give him one or to two shrimps, or a dozen of snails or one or two mealworms.

So what can I do? What is the right treatment?

Thank you very much for your help! I don't write often on the forum but I read it almost every day. Thank you!

I'm sure that melafix and pimafix can be used to treat this, I'd also add Aquarium Salt to your water just to be safe

Check the parasite treatment sticky above. I would not feed mealworms to your puffer often--it's very difficult to digest the outer skin.

Hmmmmm... this sounds almost like what my palembang had last month... the parasite looks like white spot but then almost seems to double in amount over night right???

I think my palembang may have had what yours has now... and i think its called cauliflower disease, although i'm not 100% sure...

Thanks!

I started a melafis/pimafix treatment...

I'm not sure Homer if it's the same thing... But what did you do for your palem?

Should I do a internal parasite treatment after? Just in case?

Can you post pics? And I very seriously doubt that either melafix or pimafix will do anything for external parasites, you'll need something much much stronger.

I don't have a pic...

You're right Marksrush, pimafix/mélafix did'nt work...
So, what can I use for a good treatment? And for an internal treatment? Should do it too?

Thanks again!

Considering i live in Hong Kong, finding meds for me is even more difficult compared to others and so i had to take a dive and try out a Taiwanese brand of med (recommended by my trusted LFS) for internal and external parasites which thankfully cleared it up for Homer...

So i'm afraid even if i gave you the name of the product it wouldn't be of much use since chances are you probably won't find it outside of Asia, especially HK / China / Taiwan... but look around as i'm sure there has to be some meds out there to deal with external parasites

Thank you Homer!

I'll check to my LFS (a good one) as soon as possible!

Yeah, just double check the ingredients of whats inside though, since as i've read here, some meds i think contain copper? and some other stuff which may cause your puffer to get more stressed... so in other words, just make sure the meds are okay for fish with no scales...

Thanks for the reminder Homer!

I'll go to my LFS at noon today! I hope they have something!

^ best of luck treating your puffer... i'm sure he'll appreciate it... i know homer became a lot more approachable since i helped him recover...

In your search for meds, look for meds that contain metronidazole and praziquantel (you want both). Flubendazole is also considered a good parasite medicine ingredient.

Thanks for your help!

I finally got praziquantil only and done the treatment. I don't know if he's better... I done the treatment wednesday night and yesterday night, he was on the bottom of the tank, not moving so much, and his color was yellow!! When I put snails, he was interested so it made me feel better... I don't know if his color is a good or a bad sign... And one of the two worm on his back waas still there...

I can't wait to see him after work!!!

Pics would really help if you could get some??? but in Homers case, it took a few days for me to start noticing any changes to his infection, but just keep an eye on him all the same... coz i think all in all it took me about 2 / 3 weeks to be sure the parasites were killed...