The Puffer Forum

Hi everybody! I'm a Greek guy and I'm not so good in English! I bought a Fahaka puffer 1 week ago. It is 4cm so for now I have put it in a 125l aquarium! I have this aquarium for 4 months and it's full cycled with fish food! It is a Juwel Rio 125 with the internal filter working as a mechanical -chemical and with an EHEIM 2213 working as a biological! I have 2 anubias barteri ,2 anubias nana, fine gravel and 3 stones making a house for my puffy! I have and a system from nutrifan for CO2. So far nothing have happened about the health of the fishes (3 SAE and 1 Hypostomus plecostomus). Yesterday at morning I make my everyday check on the fishes and I saw a little pink to red spot on the puffer belly! I checked the water and the results are
pH : 7.5
NO2 : 0
NO3 : 5
NH3/NH4 : 0
gH : 9
The fish looks like is everything OK (bright colors, swimming everywhere and hungry ) I asked the pet shop where I bought it and they told me not to do anything yet because maybe it will disappear by itself. If everything else happens they gived me a Sera bactupur direct to use it! Is anybody knows what this thing is and what is the best action to do? Pls help I love this fish and I don't want it to die!

The Fahaka is probably stunted. The tank is much too small to house it. The Fahaka needs around 125 gallons for itself. If you were you I would seriously consider upgrading the tank.

I have a friend who had his fahaka for 1 year in a 100 l aquarium and nothing had happen! Maybe you are right! I can't buy a 125g aquarium yet. I'll buy it at christmass!

A year in such a small tank would definately lead to serious stunting. The fahaka should have close to doubled in size in that time.

Yeah! Fahaka was near 12" before he put it in a 200g aquarium! But fahaka never stunted!

While a small tank can stress a fish...in this case the fish is young, less than 2"...
I doubt the tank is directly responsible for the red spot (unless it is a scratch or something)... I have no experience with anything like this (a picture could help the others). But parameters look immaculate. I leave prognosis of disease/infections to others with more experience...as well as recommended treatment.

Edit: just wanted to get the thread back to the heart of the question)

melafix and pimafix is a good preventative measure if you can get a hold of some.

I agree, add Melafix now. Also 1tbsp salt/10 gallons (sorry you'll have to tranfer to metric) & you can double that in 2 days.

Thnx everybody for your replies! What kind of medicine is melafix and how I must use it!

Melafix is not really a medicine...not in the classical sense...its more of an anti-inflammatory...it soothes and helps prevent infection...there is a sticky at the top of the hospital section

Peregrine wrote:Melafix is not really a medicine...not in the classical sense...its more of an anti-inflammatory...it soothes and helps prevent infection...there is a sticky at the top of the hospital section

It actually comes from tea trees, so it's more of a 'natural' medicine. The dosage is 5 ml for 40 liters.
Do not use Bactopur for now, as it is a very strong medicine that should be used with caution (and it will cause problems to your bacteria cultures).
Try to upload a photo for us if you can.

Guys I think it is going by it self! I ll keep an eye on it and if I see something I ll inform you! Thnx everybody