Hairy Puffer
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 12:59 pm
Hi All,
I think I may have introduced Velvet to my hairy puffer about a week ago? I think it is because I inadverdently used the cleaning equipment from an infected tank when doing a water change, on my puffer's tank? Unbelievable (lame) and I've been doing this for a while, so I should know better. I feel horrible now for acting so foolish.
I'd had my little buddy now for about 14 months and at first, he stopped eating and was even more sedentary that he normally is. Then he appeared to have labored breathing and he was changing colors frequently from very light to his normal shade like once every 20 seconds. Not normal. He's not doing that anymore.
How his labored breathing appears to have stopped and he is swimming around some, but he's not eating. I put some food in for him and he appeared to be gagging when he looked at it, like he was hungry but his little beak would not open. I put my finger on the side and talk to him and he did a few laps back and forth past my finger. That's how we communicate. He pretended to bite my finger like he normally does, which is how I play with him and keep him stimulated. I have turned the water up to 81F and he seems to like that.
I am not sure what to treat him, but I have read that Melafix and Pimafix may be effective(I've added small amount which seems to be helping), per my aforementioned stages described thus far in the post. I'm concerned since he does not have gills and is obviously hypersensitive to chemicals.
I am stocked up with meds for another tank where I have another sick fish. Also have Paraguard, Stresscoat and Ick medicine.
I appreciate any feedback or guidance. I think I can save my buddy and will certainly do whatever I can. I have since cleaned all of my equipment and will not be dipping the fill hose into the water in my tanks and just holding the hose above the surface of the tanks as I refill them on water changes. Thus far I've lost two fish (that have gills) both smaller fish that are not as strong in comparison to my puffer and have been at war with now with what appears to be this fungus, (I think it's velvit?)) clear to white mucous that builds up on the surface of my fish and sometimes hangs off, I don't see any ich spots but then there's this labored breathing and that seems to have improved.
Thanks all and sorry for the long post.
M
I think I may have introduced Velvet to my hairy puffer about a week ago? I think it is because I inadverdently used the cleaning equipment from an infected tank when doing a water change, on my puffer's tank? Unbelievable (lame) and I've been doing this for a while, so I should know better. I feel horrible now for acting so foolish.
I'd had my little buddy now for about 14 months and at first, he stopped eating and was even more sedentary that he normally is. Then he appeared to have labored breathing and he was changing colors frequently from very light to his normal shade like once every 20 seconds. Not normal. He's not doing that anymore.
How his labored breathing appears to have stopped and he is swimming around some, but he's not eating. I put some food in for him and he appeared to be gagging when he looked at it, like he was hungry but his little beak would not open. I put my finger on the side and talk to him and he did a few laps back and forth past my finger. That's how we communicate. He pretended to bite my finger like he normally does, which is how I play with him and keep him stimulated. I have turned the water up to 81F and he seems to like that.
I am not sure what to treat him, but I have read that Melafix and Pimafix may be effective(I've added small amount which seems to be helping), per my aforementioned stages described thus far in the post. I'm concerned since he does not have gills and is obviously hypersensitive to chemicals.
I am stocked up with meds for another tank where I have another sick fish. Also have Paraguard, Stresscoat and Ick medicine.
I appreciate any feedback or guidance. I think I can save my buddy and will certainly do whatever I can. I have since cleaned all of my equipment and will not be dipping the fill hose into the water in my tanks and just holding the hose above the surface of the tanks as I refill them on water changes. Thus far I've lost two fish (that have gills) both smaller fish that are not as strong in comparison to my puffer and have been at war with now with what appears to be this fungus, (I think it's velvit?)) clear to white mucous that builds up on the surface of my fish and sometimes hangs off, I don't see any ich spots but then there's this labored breathing and that seems to have improved.
Thanks all and sorry for the long post.
M