The Puffer Forum

Quarantine tank 60l. 60 by 30 by 30 cm approx. Mature internal power filter, Ammonia 0, nitrite 0 , nitrate 5ppm or was before 100% change 24 hrs ago. Temp 25C. Tank kept cylced by addition of food before 100% change. S.G. 1.004.

I bought another (2 cm) GSP today, it seems to have a bite mark above it's pectoral fin on the upper left side. It's infected with stringy fungus and there is another circular array of fungus surrounding the bite mark.

I would like to ask for a treatment plan, please? I was planning on using either Tea tree or Phenoxyethanol?

It's just in as 'clean' water as i can do for now...

There is a 240l tank sitting MT for this and the other GSP, I have to go full marine, btw...

Extra BTW: youngest step child may be overcoming his fear and going on a mini- moto tm. A blata, no less!

Pimafix is a good natural treatment for fungal conditions.

Many thanks, BFF.

OK, I 'll petition the wife, already had five bags of live food and a bucket of salt today...

I do have raw Tea tree oil, but I hesitate to use it on a new in my care and potentially sensitive fish.

Is 2-Phenoxyethanol harmful to puffers? That's in 'King British' Fin Rot and Fungus Control @ 5.66%..

Poor thing may be injured, but it's demolishesd two bags of live food (brine) and I saw it eat a cube of blood worm in the shop. There's snails in a fw tank upstairs for it...

I'll just have to keep the water pristine and hope.

'gulp'

I think Melafix works wonders ... but if your puffer appears to be breathing heavily, add some extra oxygen in (extra airstone).

Thanks, PPG.

I just dropped an airstone in.

There's two air pumps next to the tank - one pump is going in direct through one airstone, the other is on the foam filter for the fw pipefish. The O2 drop when using Melafix is something I've moaned on about myself, so I am aware. Oddly, I would have dosed the GSP QT with no extra air if you hadn't reminded me. So thankyou

You are one amazing individual Just in general...

Thanks

Anything other than the natural remedies have a chance of crashing your biological bed.

Well thank you Sir Soggy, nice of you to say!

Understood, PufferPunk : Will find some commercial tea tree tm, instead of hazading my own conction of tea tree for this fish.

PPG: Well, you just are...!

You try to help anyone and anything,

and you still get shot at on here occasionally...

PP does not need help, but she has my respect!

I actually enjoy helping people, makes me feel good, and sort of a repayment for all the help this forum has given me.

Well, it's still alive and behaving as though there was no wound. Eating well and very alert, tail fanned out.

I'm treating daily with Melafix, and will do a 50% change in a mo to hoover out any uneaten food behind the decor (plastic plants, roots and flower pots).

It looks like a nasty bite, but does look quite old - no new fungus, the stringy bits fell off. It (the bite area) looks pinched and shrunken so I hope that's a sign of healing. On the other hand the bite area looks grey.

Looks like the wound extends through the skin - survivable?

Maybe, I should go and get the last one and treat them at the same time but in different tanks (there's a 90l MT)?! I'd like to but don't really have the space unless I keep nothing but Puffers

Just like to say: thanks for all of your help

I've christened this one the 'Manky Puff' for now...

Hi all, could someone have a look a my bitten GSP's wound please? How long do these thing take to heal? I know it was a deep wound, dark grey, is now shallower and lighter in colour. I just don't want this one keeling over on me!

Tank 60l QT, s.g 1.004, temp 25C, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate up to 20ppm. Two 50% water changes per week with gravel hoovering. Food: vit enriched mysis, small earthworms, snails.

Treatment: Melafix, daily.

GSP behaviour: perky, tail fanned, feeding well.

Tank shot: loads of cover, all plastic.

If the bite mark is getting smaller and changing colour, then that's a good sign. I'm not certain what else you could do, other than what you are doing, to help things along. Melafix along with pristine water conditions is what I'd be doing, and if he seems okay eating and swimming, etc., then it would seem that he's healing.
I'm guessing it's taking a while to heal due to the deepness of the bite, deep tissue takes longer obviously.

Many thanks, PPG

Not really like ich on rummy nose tetras, is it? Chuck in your malachite green etc and forget (it did work, BTW)...

This must have been a bite inflicted by another GSP as I'm sure you have twigged, at the lfs.

Looking at the anatomy of puffs, it's not suprising the time the healing is taking - you could use their skin for sand paper, so a pretty complex structure to rebuild. Two or three different structures.

I suppose in your and many other peoples experience, the puff of a different species did not survie the initial attack from another puffer?

Unless, unless, this is a bacterial ulcer? Again, have a look please? Does look like a bite to me and there were 20 of these in a 10g tank at the lfs.

All i think I can do is keep with the water changes, Melafix and good food...?