The Puffer Forum

Hi,

I had originally thought that my puffer had ich. However, its been 7 days now and all the same white dots on his fin are still there. Last time i checked i thought my otos had contracted the ich but on further examination it was just air bubbles from my airstone strip. So 7 days and the exact same white spots. there are 6+ on his right fin 1 on his top fin and 1 on his left fin. When I bought him, he was struggling alot while inside the net and out of the water.. Would this cause any damage to his fins and cause white dots to appear? I'm still keeping him on the heat and salt treatment with melafix and pimafix. did 2 water changes already and going to do one again tomorrow. I just want to know if there are any other explanations to white dots on fin. It seems that these dots didnt fall off and and no other fish have it at the moment thanks again oh any my tank parameters are ok. 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate.

thanks

Anyone??

When my puffer supposedly had ich, I believe yunachin told me that sometimes they have these white spots, due to bacteria, that are harmless and go away on their own after a while. Is any of it on it's body or just it's fins?

No, none on the body just the fins. I'm beginning to think that its because he was struggling in the net. The previous owner picked him up and as soon as he was lifted in the air he went nuts in the net while in the air. I'm thinking that the spots were formed because he hurt his fins rather than Ich. Ich should already be fallen off and reproducing now but all dots are unchanged and no new ones on him or tank mates. If these dots were due to the net how long would it take to heal?

I cant imagine that it would be from the net considering that the net shouldn't scratch or harm him even if he does throw a fit. When he was with the original owner, did you notice if he had these spots or did they appear after you took him home? If they are indeed wounds, melafix and pimafix should help cure them in no time. Usually, wounds aren't shaped like little white dots though.

crap.. I didnt notice if he had them. I doubt it though. well if its ich then i just need to continue the treatment. I guess I'm gonna continue for a month and see what happens.

Well, like I said earlier, it could just be harmless bacteria that goes away on it's own after a while too since ich typically appears on the fish's body as well and not just the fins. Could you maybe ask the original owner if they noticed it before?

I doubt that treating him for ich would hurt him. I've been treating mine for a little over a week, and yes, spots have come and gone. He's looking a lot better.

If you're unsure, continue treatment. I'd rather do that then to have ich in my tank.

Ich has a four-week life cycle. It can stick around for ages. Even after the cysts disappear, you must keep treating for a full month. So, I would not be at all surprised if it's still ich. I've had the same ich spots on a betta for five days now. Only about half have disappeared so far.

Ya, the thing is that none of the spots dissapeared and its been there for 8 days now. I'm still going to continue the treatment to see if it will go away after a month or so

Good luck! Be sure to keep us updated and just keep an eye out on your puffer for any changes in behavior.

If you're treating with aquarium salt (is it a freshwater puffer?), the treatment won't be at all stressful, so I'd say go right on ahead. Can't hurt, will hopefully help!

Well its now the 10th day of the treatment. I lost an Oto my other two are still ok but the Abei (freshwater) still has the white dots on the exact same areas of his fins. I'm beginning to really think its not ich now. I will still continue the treatment though for about a month and see if it works. I'm just hoping these white dots will go away.

Can you post some photos so we can see if it looks like ich?

I dont have a cam right now but tomorrow i will be heading back to my parents house and i could grab my camera then. I will try to post pics tomorrow night and see what you guys think. Thanks for your help.