The Puffer Forum

okay real quick question but first let me help you visualize the concern. If you got a fahaka or are very used to them you know they have these little fork thinks on top of their mouths, very tiny. Well mine has one dead smack center on its back. ive never noticed it before but its there, looks just like those things above its mouth. So my question is, is it normal for them to have it on its back or is it likely those Y worm parasites that come around. I would post a picture of it but it wont let me, as in my puffer wont stay still. I had to remove five off a goldfish once and it wasn't easy, I am really dreading pulling it off of this beast. Thanks

Those flaps above their mouth are nostrils.

I guess I gotta pull the back things out

I know this is an old thread but how is your fahaka mine has the tubes on his back as well.

A "tube" on the fish's back is not a normal structure. It is more likely to be an embedded parasite. Don't just "pull it out" - that could create more problems than it could solve. Consult a book on fish diseases, or try to get a good photograph to post here.

Sorry just checked this... I kept the tank lights off and turned off the filters for a week and that thing disappeared.. I tried lowering the oxygen level and water quality enough to kill whatever that was... Fahaka is doing just fine and didn't suffer any, ive turned on the filters and done the appropriate water changes since. I concluded is was a y parasite, good ting I.didn't resort to pulling it off. I was carelful in how I handled it but I wouldn't recommend it unless you know your fish.

Turning off biofilters can kill the good bacteria and the fish. It is never a good idea.

What is a "y parasite"?

What are the water parameters?

I think a "y parasite" may be one the common types, commonly refered to as the "typo" .
I agree with RTR, you should never stop your filter for an extended perior of time (more than a few hours) or your run the risk of killing ALL of your bacteria in the filter, which keep your water free of ammonia/nitrite and help your puffer stay healthy

Not a typo, its just how I describe the anchor worms. My water is fine I did that a while back. I have large canister filters,I'm sure the bacteria made it just fine. If it didn't, I would have had a crashed system by now.

Can we see a pic?