The Puffer Forum

I got a 4.5 inch MBU which i discovered that it had developed ich this morning. I did a 20% water change and added some salt. There is no way for me to increase the temperature as i do not have a heater.

PH: 7.5
Ammonia: 0.5mg/l
Nitrite:0mg/l
Nitrates:10mg/l

No tank mates other then some ghost shrimps. I feed it a piece of market pawn twice a day and i do a 25% water change every four days. I just added some frogbits and salvinia to the tank a week back to help with the nitrates. I had this tank for almost 2years therefore i believe it should be fully matured. For the 0.5mg/l of ammonia i do not know why but i can never bring it down no matter how much water change i do.


Any advice?

What is the temp in there now? Lack of a heater is probably the #1 reason a fish gets affected by ich.

Agree 110% with PP.

Redpeasant how big is this tank, how long have you had the MUB and how was the tank cycled? You shouldn't be showing any Ammonia.

Currently the temperature is here is at 27 degree. Which i believe is the acceptable range for MBU. It is house in a 90 US Gallon tank.

How was the tank cycled? Any Ammonia is quite harmful.

Couple good links to read.

library/puffers-in-focus/mbuforyou/

viewtopic.php?f=56&t=150

Agree with trekink about the ammonia being present is also stressfull to the puffer, along with no heater in the tank to help keep the temp up and stable. Ich is caused by a chill for tropical fish right along with other reasons too but with your tank not having a heater and ammonia being present probley the main cause here. You can go buy a heater for your tank at a lfs or buy one online. About a 300 watt heater would work in your tank.

Fishless cycle for a week before housing about 30 feeder mollies for 2 weeks. Had kept channa and mono in the tank previously.

Do you think it's safe to use medication on the fish Or salt?

Both links a must read for considering a mbu.

For treating ich, you need to raise the temp to 30: library/hospital/fwich/

RedPeasant wrote:
Do you think it's safe to use medication on the fish Or salt?

Medications are not suggested for puffers. I know you are aware of the dangers of feeder fish which quite possibly could introduce ich to the tank.

Just got a heater and i had raise the temp to 31. Added salt according to the article and did a 50% water change.

Yup I am aware of the danger that the feeder fishes may bring. But i am more worry that my fishes might die due to a poorly cycled tank. So i am have some feeder to test the water first.

That is why fish-less cycle is the way to go.


library/water-filtration/fishlessconsiderations/

library/water-filtration/emergencycycle/

Glad you upgraded from the 55 gallon but sorry to be the barer of bad news, that the MUB is going to need 1000 gallons / 3790 lirtres (that is not a typo).

Add feeders to your tank & expect pathogens & many disease in the future for your puffer. The cycle is easily tested with ammonia.

Might try adding some liquid garlic to his food. Seachem Garlic Guard with added vitamin C or Kent Marine Garlic Extreme (works for freshwater fishes too). Soakin one of the two in some freezed dried krill. Something I used to do with my puffers in the past along with raising the temp and adding salt if they where freshwater puffers, just like stated above. Oh yeah and keeping the lighting off while treating too and even adding a 15-25 watt uv Sterilizer also help if all else seems dont work as expected, imo. Btw, glad you added a heater to the tank .

RedPeasant wrote: It is house in a 90 US Gallon tank.