The Puffer Forum

My figure 8 is eating now since I've cut his teeth, but no appears to be constipated. he still has the white spot on his head, which melafix seems to have no effect on, and i thought hi jaw was just pushed open, but it seems it might have been the same as on his head causing swelling? well i looked at him this morning, and clearly saw his bottom lip is like torn off! he has some skin still dangling, but it is torn right down to his bottom teeth. his belly is also grey. He is also still stuck on the bottom of the tank, like a swim bladder problem... and suggestions for the poor little guy?

Try a PimaFix, its superior to Melafix, it is made to combat bacterial and fungal infections. That almost sounds like hole in the head, but thats a cichlid ailment though?

I hope the little guy pulls through for you, but please answer all the questions in the sticky titled 'why is no one responding to my post'?

we need more information to better help you.

perek wrote:Try a PimaFix, its superior to Melafix

They are intended to treat different things.

More Info please!

lisalisa wrote:

perek wrote:Try a PimaFix, its superior to Melafix

They are intended to treat different things.

More Info please!

I talked to a AP representative and they said that Pima was in a way succesor to Melafix, in that it can treat becterial infections that have gained a imunity to melafix as well as treat fungal infections.

That is very interesting, Perek.

It suggests to me that Melafix should not be used on a whim, or routine, or often. Bacterial populations can show rapid evolution to antibiotic substances, prescription or non-prescription. And fungal infections often follow bacterial damage.

Whilst looking to buy some Pimafix and Melafix online I came across some blurb from API.

Where Melafix rapidly repairs damaged tissues fins etc etc and pimafix treats for internal and external bacterial infections, fungus etc.... It then goes on to say that Pimafix has been formulated to work in conjunction with Melafix to enhance its effectiveness in cases of stubborn infection to treat the disease and promote regrowth of damaged tissues.

When they are used together they multiply each others effects. Pimafix is a natural botanical remedy which apparently eliminates the possibility of the development of resistant strains.

From that it sounds like if the infection is resistant to Melafix, combining it with Pimafix should the trick. Has anyone put this into practice? or is what i've read total rubbish.

I'll definatly pick up some melafix and more pimafix.

i know every one likes to see the water perameters, and i know it's not quite enough for me to say they are ok, ahh, i'll test it really quick...

nitrate - 10
nitrite - 0
water is very hard
alkalinity 240
ph 8.4
(recently added some salt to bring up sg )
sg - 1.005 ( looks like i need to add more)

however the problem has been going on longer than this, since ph was 7.0, and sg was 1.008. (still trying to get used to this whole balancing sg and keeping it there...)

pufferpunk told me bore the ph should be 8, so im not too far off, some more salt should bring that down right, or does salt bring it up?

ahh, need to go get melafix right now, thanks for the info...

ahh, i'm gettign dislexia or somehting, i looked at what i had on my shelf behind me, and thought... i read it as pimafix, even though it is melafix, so i go to wal*mart in search of melafix, got some, got home, doh!! i meant to get pima fix!!! arg... back to the fish store, since wal*mart didnt have pimafix!! ahhhhhhhh! LOL

Salt will most definitely raise the PH.

A SG of 1.005 is the best setting for F8 puffers.

PH is definitely a bit high, im not sure about the alkalinity, do you have an ammonia test kit? i assume the tank has been running awhile so im guessing there is no ammonia.

If it is consipation or a blockage, you could try feeding him a pea.


hope this helps

oh, forgot to add, Salt will bring the PH up if you are using marine salt. ( marine salt is what your suppost to use). aquarium salt will not raise the ph, but will increase the SG.

Within reason, stable parameters are far more important than achieving a certain number--except ammonia and nitrite which should be zero at all times.

Try to keep PH, SG, temp and other parameters stable and water pristine until you get the disease under control.

Puffers generally won't eat peas.

i haven't tried the pea trick, only because i dont think he would eat it. he wouldnt eve think about eating the vegitable diet frozen cubes that also have brine shrimp (accidentally fed him one of those once.)

right now he is looking very bad. i got some pima fix, and melafix working togather at him. if it doesnt have a big impact on him in 24 hours, i feel he wont make it. right now he looks to be just hours away from puffer heaven. fingers are crossed.

thank you all for helping, and yes my amonia is zero.

Pufferpunk wrote:Puffers generally won't eat peas.

really? my puffers scarf down peas like theres no tomorrow.


I sure hope the little guy pulls through for you. its sounds like your trying really hard.