The Puffer Forum

I need some help. My beautiful abei puffer, Gabriella, has some confusing marks on her.

These have been on her for a good 6 months. Moving around minimally, sometimes more intense and other times less.

I believed they were caused by her squeezing her fat piglet body into her little house. I showed photos to the local aquarium shop owner who said he agreed they looked like scrapes. He recommended I use an anti-fungal treatment as a precaution. I did so. This was about 2 months ago. It made no difference.

She appears fine in herself, however I have now taken the house out (about 5 days ago) and am not sure whether I can notice any difference yet. The thing is, She seems miserable, despite my replacing it with a bigger pot. shes just cruising on the gravel... looks very unhappy.

What do you think about these photos? And what should I do? Thanks in advance. I cant bare anything to happen to her.

Just to be sure, please answer all the Qs above, in red.
What treatment did they sell you?

Okay.

Ph - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

Tank Size - Rekord 600 (61cm l x 31 w x 41 h) Im not sure what that is litres or gallons Im afraid.

Gabriella is the only inhabitant (Shes too naughty to have friends)

I feed her almost entirely Snails from the garden. She used to eat frozen lance fish but went off them. She has occassional river shrimp binges but usually it is 2 large-ish garden snails a week. I change 20% of her water twice a week usually, thats a bucket or 2 at a time. She sulks badly when her water is changed so I try to keep it as subtle at a time as possible.

I treated her with Protozin (whitespot and fungus) on the reccomendation of my local fish expert man. That was 2 months ago or so and made no difference whatsoever.

Her water changing schedule has been as normal this week.

Just to reiterate, these white marks have been 'growing' for about six months - possibly as shes got bigger and unable to fit inside the house properly.

The aquarium was set up for her, which was about 2 1/2 years ago.

Are the test results given above by liquid reagent test kit or by dip strips?

Water change volume (percentage) and schedule?

If the marks are scaring of long standing, 5 days since the remove of the cause is too short a time to expect much change. If it is really scarring and not just irritation, the color loss may be permanent. Only weeks to months will tell which is the case.

The tank is 77 l gross, just shy of 20g. So you change 4g 2x weekly. I would add another 20% change in or up to 30% or both, it will give your fish a better chance of healing. Melafix may also help if its skin looks a little sore

I change 75-90% of my water weekly in most tanks (FW). Unless your not matching temperature or not using dechloinator, there should be no reason your fish should sulk from 20%.

have you gotten her a larger cave?

Yes but is it possible all these marks are caused by the entrance to her house? I have never seen another fish marked like this

Puffer skin is very, very thick & sand-papery. Very difficult to damage.

teslenko wrote:Yes but is it possible all these marks are caused by the entrance to her house? I have never seen another fish marked like this

I REALLY don't think those are marks from scraping a house. When puffers do that it looks like they "scrape" color off. Not white like that and not in that pattern, and the marks wouldn't grow and they would be gone by now.

Increase your water changes dramatically, ASAP. Daily water changes. Add melefix. Don't add any "medicine" to the water that a fish store tells you to add, without asking here first.

This looks like a water quality issue to me. I've seen this before.

Your numbers shouldn't be 0, 0, 0.

Are you using a vacuum to remove nitrates?

Yes I vacuum tank to remove crap/water/nitrites.

I dont know what else to tell you, the fact is the marks are fading since the house has been removed.

I do appreciate your advice but as I said these marks have been fairly consistent for over 6 months, inline with when she got too big for her house. I think I will try to stay on top of things and see how they go.

10 days and Gabriella's marks are almost gone. It was indeed the house causing the marks.