The Puffer Forum

I woke up this morning to find a spot on my fahaka puffer (Monster). To me it looks like a scrape. Can someone please help me identify it and tell me how to treat it. Thanks.





Thank you in advance for your help.

Any tankmates? Looks like a suction mark? Possibly the start of an ulcer. Please answer all questions in red so we can sort this for you

Yes, please answer all the Qs above & start treating with Melafix.

At work. Will do this when I get in

Tank Size: 90 Gallon
Tank Mates: 2x2' Red Tail Shark. One 6" Royal Pleco.
Feeding: A variety of snails, Blood worms, but predominantly frozen shrimp from LFS.
Water Change: 40% once a week. I have recently used an algae killer (API - ACCU-CLEAR)
No Changes to the tank.
Aquarium set up 2 months, all water transferred from existing healthy aquariums.

Background info of "the spot" : This spot is NOT affecting the regular behavior of "Monster" what so ever. He eats, swims around, greets me as if there is nothing wrong with him. I know the pleco can be a little territorial here and there, maybe it's a suction bite? The spot appeared about 2 days ago and has not changed.

Any other questions i need to answer please let me know.

Parameters are the most #1 Q you need to answer here.

Stop the algae killer immediately! If you have an algae problem, find the source. IE: lighting, nutrient-rich water (uneaten foods). Do larger water changes (clean the substrate) and/or larger habitat.

The minute you mentioned it as being a newly set up tank and a Pleco as a tankmate, lightbulbs flashed in my head. I will go out on a limb and say it is more than likely a Pleco suction bite especially if there is no algae for it to feed on. The size of the mark matches up with the size of your Pleco as well. Get some algae chips or frozen chopped spinach (thawed) for it to feed on. The thing is probably desperate from starvation.

Yep some pleco's have been known to suck on other fish in the tank. Looks like he sucked the color right off the Fahaka. Your Fahaka is a rare one, he lets other fish swim around in his tank without destroying all of the them.

My Royal pleco is the 1st one to the melon I usually have on hand for them. He's about 12 years old now.

I would say your plec gave him a hickie, good job the fahaka didn't kiss back. Plecs and other suckerfish are known for sucking the slime off fish when hungry and sucking chunks when very hungry.

gonna pick up the melafix at the pet shop as well as the test strips so i can tell you guys the water conditions.... that pleco is going up for sale!

Still waiting for those parameters...

Try no to get the strips.... Get the liquid type.

bertie 83 wrote:I would say your plec gave him a hickie, good job the fahaka didn't kiss back. Plecs and other suckerfish are known for sucking the slime off fish when hungry and sucking chunks when very hungry.

Yep, very true. And that fahaka would had bit that armoured skinned pleco in half. Large puffers have jaws of steel and can bite through just about anything. Btw, like the others mentioned, feed that royal pleco and everyone will be happy in the tank. Pleco will stop giving hickies and your fahaka will not have to recieve anymore..lol.

If the plec has another go I can almost guarantee your fahaka will turn killer. My cae gave my fahaka a hickie once, it took some time to get their relationship back on track. He still gives a little flick if the cae sits on top of him for too long.