The Puffer Forum

so my female imbellis has velvet. or at least i'm pretty sure she does/ she's very lethargic, clamps fins, and barely eats. she's been acting like this for 2 days now, but i've only just noticed what looks like gold dust on a few parts of her body. i've looked up treatments but i don't have any of the meds listed anywhere, but have been treating with aquarium salt since i noticed her acting weird. i'm working on getting a filter and heater for the tank but am a little tight on money at the moment. i checked the water parims and they came out 0-0-<5. ph of about 6.2. don't know the temp becuase there is no heater or thermometer in te tank, but ambient room temp is 70ish. i have jungle parasite clear fizz tabs, melafix (won't use due to potential damage to the labyrinth), and stress coat on hand. do you think salt and the fizz tabs would work? or do i need a copper based med like i've read. any help would be great. the male in the same tank shows no signs of disease and is acting fine adn being a little pig. the female's fins are also torn and i would like those to heal quickly so any tips on that would be great too. thanks

dang that is one nasty bug ... why didn't you post in the hospital?

I recently read of a dogfaced puffer that survived copper based meds. Don't know much about it, but I know time is not on your side. if it is confirmed.

Is it possible to provide a pic?

i didn't post in the hospital becuase i thought it was reserved for puffer emergencies. i'll try to get a pic if she'll come back to the front of the tank. are there any meds you know of that will cure it and not kill the fish?

Hospital is for any fish. Velvet treatment is identical to ich.

ok, not the best pics ever but owell. look around the mouth and eyes. its most noticeable there.