The Puffer Forum

Ph is 7.4, Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate is 0/0/10, salinity is about 1.003. Tank is a 15G planted aquarium.
I just got 2 figure 8 puffers from my LFS, and they came in with what looks like skin damage. I tossed some stress-coat (with aloe-vera) in the water. It looks to me like it might just be damage from overstocked breeding tanks or something, but I really don't know.

For people who can't see the picture here is the link: http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8576/0527091304.jpg
I would treat with MelaFix.

Melafix, and a larger tank. You're overstocked, and that impedes healing. The rule of thumb is 15g for the first F8, with an additional 10g after that.

Also, salinity is a bit low, which isn't the source of the problem, of course, but usually 1.005-1.008 is best for F8s.

Sorry I didn't see the tank size thingy, I was in a rush. Yea it's to small.Over stock and SG needs bost like LGP said

This could also be a fungal infection which Melafix will not treat. We have to remember that every little scrape and scratch doesn't have to be treated with Melafix and that it could be something less which can be solved with pristine water and vitamin enriched diet, or something more which requires an antibiotic or antifungal.
Can you get a better shot by chance?

It looks like it's been bitten by another puffer. I seen something very similar in a tank that was well overstocked with Figure 8 puffers and they were biting each other right and left. I felt so sorry for them.

Don't LFS managers have any feelings when they are stuffing too many fish into one tiny little tank?
Apparently not, they might lose some profit if they didn't squeeze every little fish in there!