The Puffer Forum

Hi my new Figure 8 puffer appears to have white/clowdy patches on chewed fins. He came with the problem. Maybe improved a little since, but white tail patches concern me. Won't let me add pictures. Just looks chewed up with cloudiness. What should I do? This if my first puffer and first brackish tank. Eats and swims fine. Paces. Has a large aquarium and many decorations, not sure why he paces so much.

1) Water parameters -
pH: 7.6-8.2 (changes with CO2 injector)
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 20
Salinity: 1.003 (started increasing a week and a half ago, but fish already came with frayed fins and white patches.)

2) 38 gallon planted tank, cycled for 2 weeks. First and only fish in there. Had puffer for 4 days. Fish was in fresh water.


3) Only changed water once ~50% since he has been in there. Did 75% after finished cycling though.
Eats shrimp snails and worms. Feed twice a day only a little until his belly is full.. fed shrimps with Vita Chem twice. Use SeaChem Prime only after cycle and Instant Ocean Salt.

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

I increased temperature to 84 and increased salt from 1.002 to 1.003. To cure ich.

5) Fishless cycle for two weeks.

Fish came with problem.

Melafix/Pimafix should repair this.
To post pics, you need to download them here: www.photobucket.com & link them here.

I don't have any melafix, but I did put in pimafix. I work midnights and just got home a couple hours ago to find my fish's back tail both worse and better. It doesn't appear as chewed up as it was, but has a bigger, more opaque, white streak.

This is the tank:


This is him on the second day. Already a little better: His side fins are better today. I didn't get a photo the first day. Can get him still enough for a good photo. You can't see to good, but the white streak is already there.



Him today:


Nitrates are up to 40 ppm today, I'll do a water change tomorrow 50%. .....actually, should I? With the medicine and all? Or wait a week? Ammonia and nitrites are both at 0 ppm. Do I need the Melafix or is Pimafix good enough?

BTW guys, I found this awesome Android aquarium app called Aquarium Note. Best app I have installed on my phone for such things. Let's me keep track of EVERYTHING that happens with my tank, including expenses and photos of both aquarium and individual fish day to day. Makes sharable parameter graphs etc. Pretty neat. Just an FYI.

Oh, I did add more salt water today and took out carbon filters. One is from my hang on back filter and one from my canister. I also took out my SeaChem Purigen. Is that a good or bad idea?

I work again tonight and have to sleep now. Please tell me what I should do once I return home.

Thanks!
And thank you for showing me how to post photos.

I don't really think you ever need Purigen or carbon in there. I always keep Melafix on hand. It's very helpful for it's healing properties. Try to keep nitrate <20 at all times.

What about Maracyn? Pimafix does not seem to work. Will Maracyn work with a puffer fish?

Could it be Cystivirusvirus? I'm starting to suspect that instead.

Maracyn is good, if Pimafix isn't helping. Personally, I'd do Melafix/Maracyn treatment.