The Puffer Forum

I have a puffer that has white blotches on the outside of it's body. He lives in a tank with an Orange Saddleback. They do not nip each other or chase each other. The GSP is in a 75 gallon tank with the Orange Saddleback. The GSP is 7 years old. PH, Amonia, Nitrate, etc. all normal. I just did a water change 50%, then added Malefix to the tank. I wanted to see if anyone knew what this was. I found a picture as he keeps hiding on me before I can get the shot. I found one that shows the spots. He nowhere near has it covering his body like this picture. It is about four on the bottom and one on the side.

Just trying to find out what this is.

UPDATE: He now has more white all over him. He is just sitting on the bottom. Did a complete 90% water change, cleaned everything up. Don't know if I should put Melafix back in or not. His breathing is labored. I hope he makes it. He's quite the pet, greets me everyday.

Sounds like a sick fish alright, what are the water paremeters - is the fish in fresh water or brackish/marine?

water temp is 79F,
SG 1.007, nitrite and ammonia 0
nitrate .4,
pH 7.4

Saltwater tank, not brackish. Has been that way since I purchased 7 years ago

Water pare meters look good to me. Hopefully someone with better knowledge than me will be able to help

1.007 isn't near to being SW. It does look possibly like a Tetraodon sabahensis? It would really help to see a photo of your fish.

The SG is 1.027, sorry.

My beautiful baby died last night.

This seems to be some sort of disease. No one really knows to much about it. It comes on quickly and kills just as quick. When GSP's reach age 6 or 7, it appears. It was suggested it is something called Head and Lateral Line Disease??? I took him up to the Marine Aquarium. Water perimeters he said were fine, he said it is common and a very quick killing disease. I don't know much about it, all I know is I had him for 7 wonderful years.

Well then, maybe the SG is too high? You really don't need it higher then 1.020, unless you're keeping corals. I kept mine for 10 years & this didn't happen to them. I still would like a clear photo of YOUR fish. Only fast-killing disease I know of that puffers are highly susceptible of (mostly porcs) is Vibro.

I don't have a picture. When my baby died, the Orange Saddleback was going nuts in the tank and stressing. He was darting all over the tank. He stayed close all the time to the puffer. I had to take him out. I wish I had thought of that beforehand. It started with just some small white spots. Then all of a sudden the white spots started enveloping all over the body. Most of his body was turning white. Since he died, his color changed back to a normal color and the all white turned into white circular spots.

My poor Orange Saddleback looks so sad now. I don't know what I can get him as a tank mate, but I just feel sorry for him. It is amazing how fish attach themselves to each other.

It started with just some small white spots. Then all of a sudden the white spots started enveloping all over the body. Most of his body was turning white.

That's Vibro--highly contagious, almost always deadly, fast-killing. Do a search here.
Sorry for your sad puffer.

Can'r find vibro. Went to forum search and typed in vibro

Hmmm... just did the same & got a whole bunch of threads.

I went to the top, clicked search, typed in vibro, click on the threads, right

Thank you for the information. Very informative. I do believe you are right. Vibro seems to be the issue, however I cannot find what causes it unless I am not reading that part. I also went further on the internet, but it is a bit confusing. It happened so quickly. He was eating normally one minute and within 5 hours was gone. My poor Orange Saddleback is looking very, very sad. I don't know what other tank mate would be good for him.