The Puffer Forum

So today is day two of having the little ones home. They told me at the LFS that they were prone to ICK and because of the stress of a new environment and all that they would most likely develop it. I found it odd that they would develop cysts overnight- making me think they already had the condition when I got them but anyways. Yesterday less than 24 hours of being home, I noticed they were covered with ICK cysts. Was very sad, but I called the LFS and they told me to immediately treat the tank, so I did. I have some guppies, 4 adult Ancistrus and about five juvis, two clown plecos and one L181 in the tank, it is a 90 US Gallon. Full of wood and plants, stones and caves- as it was a strictly a bristlenose/pleco breeding tank-had it for about 5 years now. I am curious to know- if this experience is common (ICK) and how they should do with a course of treatment. I am concerned they have not wanted to eat- I am feeding them/or trying to Mysis-freshwater shrimp-which is what they were eating at the LFS. Bought them a variety of snails/ already had some in the tank, but only two of them are curiously exploring the tank/plants and caves- the other 2 are/ or what seem to be is stressed. They pace the glass and do this for hours- none of them want to eat. Was wondering if this is normal acclimatazation to new environment and with them being sick with Ick- should I worry if they are not eating? Today I will try spiking the food with some garlic-hoping that will help. Sorry about the length of my post, any suggestions, comments-good/bad are welcome, I am here to learn and keep our new addittions to the fam as happy as can be
Thank you.

Do NOT treat the tank with meds!
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113

Also, puffers & guppies do not mix, they will make mincemeat of their long fins.

Is this fairly common in puffers to get ICK so quickly? Also should I worry.Thank you I will not treat with meds.Will also remove the guppies. So I have raised the temp-it is now at 28*C from 26*C yesterday slowly-hoping to speed up life cycle of protozoan and temp increase will kill tomites. Any other suggestions, thanks again.

The nasties that cause ick are present in every tank. When a fish gets stressed, those nasties take advantage. SAPS and Oscars are notorious for getting ick within a day of being in a new tank. You treat with salt and heat, not meds.

They pace because they are very active puffers requiring large tanks and heavy decoration. They are also sensitive to ammonia and high nitrAtes.

carolynn wrote:Is this fairly common in puffers to get ICK so quickly? Also should I worry.Thank you I will not treat with meds.Will also remove the guppies. So I have raised the temp-it is now at 28*C from 26*C yesterday slowly-hoping to speed up life cycle of protozoan and temp increase will kill tomites. Any other suggestions, thanks again.

Absolutely, although I found mine were getting velvet, not ich. You say they are "covered"? Like a coating?

Please read: library/puffers-in-focus/sap/
library/hospital/dentistry/

No not like a coating. There skin is covered with speckles, like as if they had been sprinkled heavily with salt. They are darting around and trying to rub their skin-it looks as if they are itchy and a saw one try and eat a snail but mostly they look uncomfortable. My parameters are nice too-low nitrates, almost 0 nitrites, almost 0 ammonia ph is at 7.1. My ancistrus are busy eating not bothered at all by the puffies.

I just spent the last half hour trying to take a picture of one and the spots-but as you may all probably guess- for now its a little impossible- I gather they feel sick and are still stressed from their new home-oh well

carolynn wrote:I just spent the last half hour trying to take a picture of one and the spots-but as you may all probably guess- for now its a little impossible- I gather they feel sick and are still stressed from their new home-oh well

Yeah it's very hard to get good pics! Don't worry though it really sounds like ick.

I think your having a mini cycle...You should have 0 nitrIte and 0 ammonia. And <than 20 nitrAte.

Have you started salt and heat treatment? Ick kills fast.



How to treat...
library/hospital/fwich/

Yes, could be a mini cycle. I had treated the tank as the LFS had said and then I did a 40% water change and added new activated carbon to remove meds. I have the temp at 31*C now. I have not used salt as I think I will have to remove my plecos, today do the 1tsp per gallon ratio(as it says in the post here). Question: Do I have to do the ratio of salt it says here? If so I'm not sure if my plecs will cope, however they have fast gill movements-feeding and everything normal for them, but am thinking they are also infected.

However I am happy to report that the puffies have been eating snails-little rams all night and just now this morning. They still look sick to me- all covered in spots but they are behaving much better-not pacing along the glass, they are busy hunting/foraging and hungry now and I noticed when I woke this morning that a couple have found their own little sleeping spots under leaves.

Will test the water later too to see if the parameters have returned to normal, thanks so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.

If the LFS warned you about the ich, why didn't you QT the fish 1st, rather than adding to your healthy fish? If I were you I'd set up a species tank for the puffers. They will nip at your other fish. Have you read the articles I linked you to about them & the dentistry they involve?

Yup just tested the water-definitely cycling, ughhhh-I've been keeping fish for so many years, and this tank for 5 set-up-have not had to deal with a cycle in years. Params are:ammonia <0.20, nitrites worry me though at between 0.5 and 1.0!!!!(have never seen it turn purple from blue before, ever), nitrates are at 20- so this tells me the nitryfying bacts are turning the ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate- so there's still a lot of them working hard-so its not a full cycle-but still very very worrisome for me.
As the temp is high and everything is more toxic.

Will test again later on, if I remember my chemistry right and many years back a few hours should make a huge diff, considering everyone's busy eating and pooping, lots of aeration for the temp being at 31*C

Also the Ick seems to be progressing, puffies have less cysts on them, no one else is showing symptoms. Thought my plecs were in distress but the're just breeding. So that's a relief.

Add a bottle to Tetra's Safestart to the filter, after doing an 80% WC, & the tank will be cycled again.

Thanks stores will be opening here in an hour here will do thanks so much
Temp is at 28*C need a new heater too I think it cut out, added the salt, plecos should be fine will move if they show signs of distress but otherwise would rather treat them for ick with heat and salt than meds. My tanks have always been virtually chem free, only prime for the high chlorine we have in our water here.
Thanks for helping me through this with our little puffies