The Puffer Forum

I hope someone can steer me in the right direction. When I went to feed my Baileyi today I noticed something about him that wasn't quite right. I don't usually get to see him very well because he hides either inside his terracotta pot, or behind it, and so getting a good look at him in the light isn't always easy.
When I got him he had 3 bite marks on him from where another puffer had attacked him. The reason I mention this is because he now has some white marks on his body that look similar to what those bite marks look like. I hate to say they look like "white spots" because I'm afraid you will get the wrong idea and think I mean he's got whitespot/ich. They aren't those kind of small speckled spots that you get with that. These aren't as numerous either. There's a spot here and a spot there, and they are bigger than what you'd have with whitespot/ich. It really looks a lot like the bites, just the pigment gone and you can see the white "meat" underneath.

Now my first inclination was to run to the Melafix or Pimafix (I forget which one does what, but I have them both), but I thought before I do any dosing of medications, I should maybe ask on here first.

Just to let you know, in reference to the questions in red, this is an established tank that's never had any issues with water parameters. It's always spot on in regards to nitrites, ammonia, etc. There's just the Baileyi in this tank. I add Prime when I do water changes, but that's about it for additives. I haven't made any changes, other than to put up a divider in the tank so I can have my Congos in the other part, but I don't think that would have anything to do with his spots, they appear to be in fine condition.

Well, I hope that someone can tell me what to do to help my guy. He might be very sedate and inactive, but I love him anyway. He's got the sort of personality that slowly grows on you.

Thanks in advance.

Got any pics mate or are they too small.If it is a bite mark could just be the flesh underneath. My Abei burnt himself on a heater once and it was a big gash down his back, that went white as it healed.

Sorry, can't get a picture, he's back to hiding behind his terracotta pot again. No, I don't think this is a bite or a burn because the heater is not exposed, and there's nothing in the tank with him that could bite. And besides that, there's like one spot near his head, then another near the gill, and then maybe one further down the body, but not really numerous. He doesn't appear to be ill, but he's never been a consistent eater, so can't tell by that. Except for the strange spots, he looks fine and appears to be fine. But I am afraid to ignore it. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just go ahead and put some Melafix in there.

Was gonna edit my post what was I thinking trying to get a pic of a Baileyi.

I dont think Mealfix could hurt as a preventative measure. When I got my Sabahensis he developed some strange lumps, on his back and on his head. Lumps grew in size a little then dropped off of their own accord. Never could work out what it was, didnt affect activity or appetite. Never found an explanation to it. I would do a dose of Melafix and monitor.

What a coincidence! I've literally just done a dose of Melafix on his tank, and then came in here to see your post. Yeah I figured it couldn't hurt either.
Do you know that I've had my Fang's puffers for months, and I never seen much of them, and then when I first got my Melafix and Pimafix, I decided that I was going to dose everyone's tank, because it says you can do it every now and again. Then, less than 2 days after I'd done the Melafix/Pimafix dosage, I was seeing my Fang's out and about swimming and being really calm when I came up to look at them. In all the time I've had them, they never were very active until the Melafix/Pimafix went in the tank!! I really do think of this stuff as a miracle potion to some extent. So far, so good!

Cool, well hopefully its nothing serious and he'll actually come out so you can see if its improving.

Yeah, I just wanted to make sure it's nothing really serious and me ignore it and then find out later I should have done something and it be too late.
Sometimes it seems like I get through one harrowing situation only to be faced with another!

my female suv gets bitten during couring and the bits go white like scar tissue but heal up over about 2 weeks usually its just where the skin has been irritated. Ill get a pic of her back when im back from work and post it if m right its nothign to worry about just the healing process

Yes, but the worrying part is that there's nothing in that tank that can "bite" my Baileyi. If I thought there was another puffer, or other fish, that could bite him, then I wouldn't be so concerned.
He's hiding again inside his terracotta pot, so can't really see him today yet. I put some Melafix in last night hoping that would take care of whatever is wrong.
He's my biggest puffer so far and would hate to lose him.

Well I've gotten a better look at my Baileyi and I am now thinking that it's fungus that's causing the problem. I've given him a dose of Melafix, but what I need to know is, is this contagious? Because my 2 Congo are in the same tank and the divider that's in the tank has holes in it to allow water to get through, so if it's contagious, I need to treat those 2 as well.

Does anyone know what the prognosis is for something like this? Is it something that a puffer can get over easily? I feel so sorry for poor Baileyi, first he had worms, and now bacteria!!

Any other suggestions?

Dose with Pimafix as well, should take care of it in the tank.

Got it Hilly, I did the dose of Pimafix when I was doing the Melafix, figured it couldn't hurt and read that it can be used in tandem with each other.

(hey you have the one puffer I'd like to have ... Abei!)

Yeahi've used them in tandem with no issues and if the blurb is correct they enhance each other.

Had an Abei, lost all mine, really need to change that, nice fish. Seen some really big ones, mine was only about 3.5"

I miss the ruthless little sod.

If I see any around Notts, i'll drop you a PM.

Oh by the way, awesome collection you have, very envious.... but not of your electricity bill.

schismy,
just wanted to inquire as to how your Baileyi was doing. As one of the few fellow Hairy Puffer keepers on this forum, I wish you and your Baileyi luck with a speedy recovery.