The Puffer Forum

Hi, we have a dog faced puffer with what can only be described as lumps. These lumps have now begun to open with poor Sushi now not wanting to eat.
Water parameter's are: ammonia 0, PH 8, nitrite 0.03ppm with a salinity of 1.024/5.

He is currently in a 90l hospital tank being treat with copper (thinking the lumps were ick) after reading many web sites and consultation with the aquarium shop. His only tank mate is a dotty back who we have put in the hospital tank with him. We are maintaining a copper level of 0.5g/l. Carrying out a 10 - 20% water every other day and adding seed every day to keep the bacteria levels up in the filter.
These two pictures are how the lumps developed, quite quickly really. This picture shows the "lumps" opening near his dorsal fin.

Does anybody know if it is ick? If not what is it?

Many, many thanks in advance

Dave n Anne

Not ich (or Crypt in marine species). Looks like cysts. Not a common problem. Be sure to keep his water clean. You might want to add Melafix to prevent the open sores from getting infected. Do NOT use copper, it's quite deadly to puffers.

Only other suggestion is possibly nematodes. Do the bumps move around at all?

Hi, thanks for the reply and advice. Are getting rid of copper as we were iffy about using it anyway. There is nothing moving in the lumps at all, they just look like a boil/pimple with this white stringy substance leaking out. He now looks as though he can't open his mouth properly! Would chloramphenicol antibiotic do any good, do you think?

As I mentioned, this is pretty rare. I have PMed our Medtors here, to see if they have any advice on this. Your best bet is if Kelly/Pufferqueen responds.

Once again, thanks for the help. Fingers crossed someone can help!

Almost certainly viral... looks like lymphocystis or similar to me. No cure, but not normally fatal either. As PP suggests, fish biologists suspect an environmental linkage between lymphocystis and something in the water... typically heavy metals. Review, and act accordingly. Optimising water quality can help (check copper level for example, and ensure usage of water conditioner that neutralises copper). Reviewing diet is probably worthwhile too (thiaminase-content for example: avoid prawns and mussels, focus on cockles and white fish fillet such as pollack or tilapia). Use of marine aquarium vitamins definitely worthwhile. Lymphocystis usually takes months, even years to clear up, but it usually does eventually.

Would recommend sending these photos (resized to less than 1 MB though!) to Bob Fenner, a mutual friend of Jeni's and mine. He's good at identifying these problems. Can be contacted through WetWebMedia.

Cheers, Neale

Thank you so much for the help. Will try and contact Bob Fenner and act on your suggestions re water, diet etc...
I'll do anything I can to help the little fella, he's such a character

Thought I'd update you on Sushi...
So far so good. Got rid of all medication, frequent water changes and he's back to his old self, eating like a horse!!
He's still got the lumps and bumps but they're not weeping like they were and also it looks as if some have disappeared. Fingers crossed he carries on like this and continues to improve.

Wonderful!