The Puffer Forum

Hello Everyone.
I recently adopted a small porcupine puffer (about 4 inches). His skin was literally rotting off him when I got him and he was covered in white fuzz. Anyways, treated him for fungus, ich, and bacteria and he seemed to heal up nice. However, some spots I thought were just damaged spines have turned out to be what appears as parasites protruding through his skin and dangling off. Imagine Bits of rice hanging off my puffer. I've tried meds from the store but they don't seem to help, just make my puffer miserable. Any advice on what to do for my Puff?

Looks like shedding spines, to me. Congrats on getting him better.

but they haven't shed and they are white and too misformed to be spines. They pop out at spots that don't fit the pattern of the rest of his spines and they haven't fallen off in over a month. Some of them have even gotten longer. I know it's not clear in the picture but in life they are obviously foreign objects.

Can you physically try to poke at them and try to possibly remove them with something? Getting a closer look and seeing how easily they can be removed may be your best bet.

No, I have not tried to physically remove them. One, because of the difficulty of getting the puffer to stay still while I attempt it, and two, I am afraid that since these worms appear to be attached to the internals of my puffer, that trying to simply pull one out may do more damage then good.

I stand by my original diagnosis.

They're def just spines that have bent out of place. My Porcy had the same thing happen. If he puffs up you'll notice that they'll just blend in with the other spines.

I have never had a porky before only GSPs so maybe this is what broke spines look like and you guys are right. I hope so. but I don't see how they can be spines even broken ones. They are limp like noodles, they are completely white, they do not straiten when he puffs, they are irregularly shaped, and they don't look attached to the puffer in the same way as the spines either.

Not broken, shedding. Seen it often before. Not to worry.

Ok, I will calm down. Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I'm sure my puff will appreciate not being quarantined and dosed again.

On the bright side he is extra clean and healthy and will likely stay that way with a cautious and concerned owner like you! lol