The Puffer Forum

Is there a standard treatment for heater burn in puffers? I've added melafix, waterchanged and am about to go out and get a cover for it. It looks horrible, right on his nose.

Is Pimafix a safe secondary treatment in case it turns out to be something more sinister?

Many thanks.

Pimafix is generally for fungal infections, but it couldn't really hurt as long as you follow directions.

I'd probably just stick to Melafix and water changes and let it heal naturally. Getting a cover is a good idea.

You've got me concerned now. Maybe I should get a cover for my heater. My GSP likes to sleep in the same corner as the heater.

Felloa, is your heater horzontal?

lisalisa wrote:Felloa, is your heater horzontal?

Nope, Vertical. I recently removed my inadequate Juwel filter, but haven't been able to replace the heater, so I'm using the Juwel heater, and a seperate filter.

I've seen him glass chasing against the heater though, and wedging himself between heater and filter.

I've since moved the filter to the front of the tank where he spends the least amount of time and placed it in a positing where it would be difficult to chase against.


Irritatingly I've just had a power cut as well, meaning the local store was closed, meaning no pimafix or heater cover today. Irritating to say the least! Have to go back tomorrow.

Ok, it looks a big more urgent now.

Just caught him at the surface with his nose sticking out of the water. He ad little energy so I was ok to hold him in my hand while I took a photo.



Definitely heater burn? Recommended course of treatment?

Ouch. Looks nasty. What kind of puffer is that?

I'd recommend the same as before. You could treat this just like Ich basically. Melafix, ~80f temp, and aquarium salt if it's freshwater. 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons.

Clean water is going to be very important in allowing it to heal. To be sure to vacuum and do water changes regularily.

Hopefully the damage isn't so deep that it can't heal.

He's a Carinotetraodon Irrubesco.

I'm also hoping that there won't be any permanent scarring on him.

Has anyone seen something like this before? Was it easily treated? Can it be fatal?

I can't believe this, he was fine today, then he gets this burn, and within a few hours he's dead.

I can't believe it.

I'm very sorry. You tried your best though.

I really can't get my head round it. He was fine, this thing appears on him, and within only a couple of hours he's passed on. I'm not even sure it's a heater burn.

Thanks for the kind words.

He may have gone into shock...if you think about it, it's a very unusual injury for a fish to have, and in terms of percentage coverage, it'd be quite big.
Sorry to hear that...make sure you get that cover for your heater to prevent this happening in the future.
Poor little guy.
Pami.

Sorry mate I know what trouble you have gone through to get these guys!

To make matters worse, looks like it's not heater burn, and rather, something else, as the female has it on her back, and her slime coat is peeling away.

I'm away for a few days and have left my girlfriend to treat it.

And yeah rocker, what a PITA!! There's a Fahaka that is the same size as my female irrubesco in Timmermans at the moment. I can't tell you how tempted I am! But I think I'll not buy any new puffers for some time. Too much heartbreak!

You get about a bit for someone who doesn't drive lol.