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Marine Fin Rot - Orbiculate Puffer

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2022 12:37 pm
by waterpuppy
1) pH: 7.8-8.0, Ammonia: <.02, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: 5, salinity 1.024

2) Tank size: 15 gal quarantine, list of ALL inhabitants: orbiculate puffer

3) Feeding: attempted snails, ghost shrimp and clams. Have only seen her eat maybe 2 snails, water change schedule: tank has only been up since this weekend, used cycled water from another tank and did 33% change yesterday, list of all products you are using or have added to the tank: Prime, Melafix and Paragard initially, Erythromycin starting yesterday

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so: New set up

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? This weekend, was established tank water from another healthy tank.

Issue: I brought home an orbiculate puffer who in the store was eating krill. She did not look at all sunken or like she wasn't eating. She was VERY shy though and wouldn't swim around AT ALL in her store tank, so much so I thought she was dead. I monitored for a month before bringing her home. Once home she began swimming around and being more active. Then two days or so ago she started having extremely quick progressing fin rot as well as a whiteish clouding of her eyes with one line like spot on one eye that looked like maybe she scraped it. Over those two days her fins have become completely gone halfway down to the base. It's all of her fins. I tried Melafix as soon as I noticed it and when that didn't slow it got Erythromycin on board last night. No new progression as of today, but I haven't seen her eat anything substantive and I can't deworm her simultaneously as it says not to mix the meds so I'm not sure what to do. Also, I read I need to use Minocycline instead of or in conjunction with the Erythromycin (one treats gram neg, the other gram pos) so I have that on order but won't be in until Friday and can't find in local fish stores. It seems the rapid degeneration of her fins has slowed/stopped but I just feel like so much went wrong in such a short period and I'm at a loss of what to address first or how to make sure this doesn't get worse than it already is.

Photo: Her just now. Image

Re: Marine Fin Rot - Orbiculate Puffer

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:39 pm
by Pufferpunk
Hi, I'm not sure your tank is cycled. Water has very little if no nitrifying bacteria in it.
https://www.pufferfishenthusiastsworldw ... blue-baths

Re: Marine Fin Rot - Orbiculate Puffer

Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2022 4:37 pm
by waterpuppy
Thank you for the link. Do you suggest the bath in addition to the antibiotics or in lieu of? I am hesitant to leave her in the bath for an entire hour twice a day as it seems like it would be very stressful back and forth, especially trying to keep a puffer out of the air. Any recommendations for how to keep her under water for that?

Re: Marine Fin Rot - Orbiculate Puffer

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:59 pm
by Pufferpunk
Find something like a cup or pitcher to scoop her out with. Meth Blue IS an antibiotic & it does work if used exactly as posted..