The Puffer Forum

Hello again! I started the Heat/Salt treatment last night for Ich and it appears I have a puffer that is extremely intolerant of heat. Anything over 80 degrees and he is bobbing at the surface and breathing very heavy.

I tested all of the water parameters before treatment (with solution vs strips) Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0 -shook the heck out of it too- PH was just under 8 when I began.
60% water change sunday night
Puffer was on fenbendazole for camallanus the week before with no positive result.
I added an air stone in anticipation of the heat / oxygen issue.
Aquarium has been up for 8 weeks and was fully cycled.
65 gallon with a 400GPH filter.
Water changes and vacuuming done every 5 days on average.
Sole tank inhabitant 4 inch Fahaka
Tank is currently at 80 degrees with a salinity just under 1.004 (per the hydrometer), and I used non-iodized table salt at a teaspoon per gallon, but I measured for 60 gallons not 65 to account for the sand and decorations.

Does anyone have suggestions for Ich treatment for a fish that cannot seem to handle anything over 80 degrees? Even at 80 he seems to be struggling a bit, and all he will eat are snails but today he is even refusing those.

Also the camellanus worm that was protruding from him this morning fell out, and the other one that was in him is now attached to his side. Has anyone else ever seen that kind of behavior? I am still going to treat with levamisole, but I found it odd that the salt and heat would suddenly cause the nematodes to disengage.

If I missed a post already related to this please let me know. I searched the forum but did not find anything.

if he's gasping it means the temp is causing there to be less oxygen in the water, which happens as temp rises. Try adding a bubbler or two maybe and see if that helps?

There's a bubbler in the tank... I called it an airstone (sorry not thinking) but its actually a 2 foot long green wand of nothing but bubbles.

QuickCure, but at half dose should do the job for the Ich

Perfect thank you!

You're welcome. I know how you feel, it's all a bit bonkers when you start treating lots of things at once - but once it's all over you'll relax knowing it's all done

With the IP, I think you're just catching them at different stages of their life-cycle, so it'll work out eventually

I have to disagree. Use the salt method. Heat speeds up the life cycle of ich which is why this treatment is so effective. I have heard Esha exit is a good treatment but lots of these meds can mess with your biological filter. Perhaps if the temp is not working you could treat with salt for longer? Wait for confirmation on that

I've used QuickCure on Squaffy before, at half dose (the dose recommended for ALL scaleless fish). I screwed up and plopped some ebay bought snails straight in.

Malachite Green affects gram positive bacteria - nitrobacter are gram negative, so no filter problems.

If you're going to disagree, at least try to explain why

My biggest failings are scientific based. I know that half dosed treatments can cause a resilience to the drug, I also know the salt method works and heat speeds the lifecycle of ich so the treatment would need to be longer. Is that safe I don't know so ended with a question mark. I also stated lots of meds can mess with biological filtration not all. I will state what I know works and to be honest cant and won't get into a scientific debate because my brain is not equipped for such, I stick to what I know from years of fishkeeping and from the mass of knowledge from here. This is what I am basing my recommendation on.

I agree strongly with bertie on this.

Fat-Haka wrote:There's a bubbler in the tank... I called it an airstone (sorry not thinking) but its actually a 2 foot long green wand of nothing but bubbles.

Oh sorry didt see that part, but I also agree with Bertie. Puffers are far too sensitive, even half doses seem too much. Also at a half dose I can't imagine the medicine would be as effective is supposed to be; which is best at full dose, which puffers can't handle.

I'm not going to argue over this. She asked for an alternative method, I proposed one - one I have used with no ill effect on my own puffer.

I would never advocate anything I have not used.

You may also consider that she is treating for IP and added epsom salts recently - perhaps her puffer is a bit fragile at the moment and extra salt and/or heat is just a bit too much if it's showing signs of distress

The half dose is because scaleless fish will absorb more than scaled fish. It's measured and recommended on the bottle - nothing to do with 'taking it easy' or letting things become immune to a lesser dose - the actual dose absorbed is the same as scaled fish

If you're going to brag about years of fish keeping, I have kept fish for 35 years - got my first tank aged 7

meh - I'm going to bed

So pp could a prolonged salt dose be used if heat is an issue?

Since the salt is already in the tank (and yes he is fragile, he has been treated for two types of IP's, epsom salt in the quarantine tank to pass a blockage and now the ich - note to self do not buy puffer from LFS) I would love to know what everyone thinks of the prolonged salt/lowered heat option? He seems to be functioning ok (still breathing heavily but not floating on the surface-buried in the sand instead) with the temp at 80, but I am reticent to add the additional half a teaspoon of salt to his tank since he is already so stressed out. I followed the stickie posted regarding salt ich treatment to the letter, and all I want is what is best for my fish so I am open to any/all ideas.

Just out of curiosity, at that kind of salt dosage, is the sg suppose to hit almost 1.004? I am just asking.. Had used salt treatment and never thought of measuring that before.