The Puffer Forum

Our porcupine puffer that we have had for years died out of the blue about a mth ago. It got a bacteria infection that turned its whole back white and grey in two days then took over its eyes and he was gone. The Bly thing I can think that may have caused it was that all brands of clams on the half shell stopped shipping to all stores in Los Angeles so I had to go to the Korean market and get shrimp. I also got about 6 fresh clams and fed them that. I was told after that I was supposed to freeze them overnight then thaw them before feeding them to my puffers. I'm afraid that my porc may have gotten its bacteria infection from the food. I feel so guilty. He was like a family dog to us.

I rushed to the lfs when I noticed the patch on its back and moved it to a qt with meds but like the guy at the lfs said, it was too late.

I doubt food would have caused this. What was your water quality? Tank size? Do you have a lionfish in the same tank?

That disease is called: Vibrio--it's a very fast killer.
See: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16930

purplecandle wrote:I doubt food would have caused this. What was your water quality? Tank size? Do you have a lionfish in the same tank?

nitrates are always high but I do a 45gal a week water change in my 110 to keep it below 50. and no on the lionfish.

Tell us more about your tank:
How much live rock?
Sump?
Skimmer?
Flow?
Tankmates?

If the system is healthy & not overstocked, there is no reason your nitrate should be so high.

I know why its high, its my S&S. He eats like a pig. If I hold out on him food wise he runs a muck. I have about 80-100lbs of LR. About a 30gal refugium with a bubblemag NAC6, High flow with a 57 watt Aquauv.

For fish I have..
3" angel
draggon wrasse
small hogfish
small blue spot grouper
2 b&w clowns
7" S&S puffer
3" porc puffer
filefish

You need a MUCH bigger tank. I would not be keeping those 2 puffer species in the same tank. 100g just for the porc & 200g for the S&S. Many of the fish you have will grow into quite large adults. My guess is the puffer died from overcrowding & unhealthy water conditions. Please do something about this, before everything in your tank is sick.

Pufferpunk wrote:You need a MUCH bigger tank. I would not be keeping those 2 puffer species in the same tank. 100g just for the porc & 200g for the S&S. Many of the fish you have will grow into quite large adults. My guess is the puffer died from overcrowding & unhealthy water conditions. Please do something about this, before everything in your tank is sick.

HUGE + 1...agree, agree, agree...

Is vibrio a saltwater specific disease or can it infect freshwater species too?