The Puffer Forum

I think my new amazon puffer has ich

He is only small but does look like he has the typical sand looking dots on him.
he is swimming around and eating fine.

Water parameters are ammonia 0, nitrite 0 and nitrate 20. Ph 7.4.
There are 2 algae eaters in there but 2 have died in the last week....I guess I know why now.
Tank is a 60L.
I do1/3 water change every few days and always hoover the sand.
I've mainly been feeding him ramshorn snails but I've also give him bloodworm and brine shrimp, all live.

I've read the article on here but I'm a bit confused about what I should do 1st?
It mentions raise the temp and put salt in the tank...
Is this while my puffer is still in there?

And what to do for treatment? I don't have a 2nd tank I can keep him.

I have had him a week and a half and I noticed yesterday his tail didn't seem as fanned out as normal but he's not curling it up. Then today I've noticed the spots.

Can someone please advise what I should do step by step please?

Thank you.

It's almost a given that this species will either wind up with ich or velvet, when moved to a new environment. Raise the temp to 86, add 1 tbsp salt/10g (IDK liters) & do 80% WC, cleaning substrate well, every other day, for 3 weeks after visible cysts art gone.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113

Hey pp I read somewhere that adding salt can burn puffers as they have no scales

Pufferpunk wrote:It's almost a given that this species will either wind up with ich or velvet, when moved to a new environment. Raise the temp to 86, add 1 tbsp salt/10g (IDK liters) & do 80% WC, cleaning substrate well, every other day, for 3 weeks after visible cysts art gone.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28113

Thank you for your reply!

Also the snails I mentioned are in a tank of their own and I bought them off a breeder on ebay (100% positive feedback)
I have fed my puffer a few of these...is it possible they have ick?
I can't seem to find anything concrete with some people saying ick maybe present on the shell
If puffer is eating these and they did have ick, would they still affect him as they are being ingested?
How would I treat snails if they did have it?

I've been to get some API aquarium salt.
This recommends half a teaspoon every 4L (one U S gallon)
And I read somewhere to add the salt (mixed with tank water) over a 48 hour period.

I've got the temp up too 27C which is 80F.

It just seems to go hand in hand with moving this species to a different environment. Messes with their immune system.

I've added most of the salt and put the temp up one more degree to 28 degrees but about half an hour later I seen him at the bottom of the tank breathing heavy!!! I've turned it back down to 27 but he still seems to be struggling. He does move when disturbed and seems interest in potential food.
He's twitching now and then and spending some time near my filter.

Am do worried I don't want to lose him.

I have a spray bar on my filter so the surface is adjiteded.

What should i do?!!!!

How much salt is that/10 gal? Sorry, IDK metric.

15 usg. He may just feel irritation to his skin from the salt? Ich is primarily a gill infection which could be causing rapid breathing

Pufferpunk wrote:How much salt is that/10 gal? Sorry, IDK metric.

The instructions in the aquarium salt say half teaspoon per 4 L which is one gallon. But everything I've read says at least one teaspoon per one gallon.

On the 3rd day now and still got all the white spots. Temp is back up to 28 and ill see how he goes with it.
He's still eating but rubbing on everything.

Is the heat I've got it on and the salt going to be enough to kill the parasites once they are free swimming?

Aquarium salt is not what you want, it will do nothing and has no use. Use table salt instead

You MUST keep up with those large WC & substrate cleaning, to remove the free-swimming cysts.

bertie 83 wrote:Aquarium salt is not what you want, it will do nothing and has no use. Use table salt instead

Hi there, I've read so much for and against table salt and aquarium salt.

I have 2 different types of salt but they have the same things in them : salt, anti caking agent, sodium hexacyanoferrate II

I take it this isn't the right one?

I'm from the UK so what do I need?

So upset with all this and frustrated too.
He is still covered in the spots and I can't get the temp up past 27D.
He seems to be getting lethargic.

I used the cheap sainsburys salt in the end. If the temp is affecting him keep it slightly lower and dose for longer, rtrs method is spot on for temp and life cycles etc. but if you have to tweak it to keep your wet pet happy then do so. Aquarium salt will not help you in this case, or really any case. I learnt that some time back. Trust me just use plain table salt.

bertie 83 wrote:I used the cheap sainsburys salt in the end. If the temp is affecting him keep it slightly lower and dose for longer, rtrs method is spot on for temp and life cycles etc. but if you have to tweak it to keep your wet pet happy then do so. Aquarium salt will not help you in this case, or really any case. I learnt that some time back. Trust me just use plain table salt.

That's the salt I have aswell! So just to be clear yours had the anti caking agent in etc?

If do I'll do a massive water change tonight and use the Sainsbury's basic salt.