The Puffer Forum

I got a small GSP just over a week ago. This evening when I went to feed him I noticed very small white speckles on his skin. They are so small, at first I was not sure I saw them, but there is definitely something on his skin. His behavior is normal and I did not notice them last night. Any ideas on what it could be and how to get rid of them if it is bad?

I checked the water parameters this evening and they are perfect:
Nitrates 5.0, Amm 0, Nitrites 0, pH 7.8, temperature is 77F

I have had him on a diet of brine shrimp and bloodworms (am trying to track down small snails, but it is hard!!)

Also I put the light on for a few hours each evening, could this be the problem? And there are a few plastic plants in the tank, could they be irritating his skin?

He is currently housed in a 10G as he is so small, I have a 30G waiting for him when he gets a bit larger. Soon I will begin bringing up his salinity, he is currently housed in freshwater, I want to make sure he is in a healthy condition before I begin the change!

Thanks in advance for any ideas you all may have about what is wrong with him! I really would like to keep him as healthy as possible

I do not have a picture of it, the best way I can describe it is that it looks like little specks of white sand or something clinging to his body and fins. They are very small.

Could it be his spines? Does it look anything like the spots on these puffers?

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=6833

http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=6874

Yup, probably spines.

but he said it was on his fins as well? that the only strange part

Fins can have small white spots as well. There are several recent threads about it. My new fakaha has them as well, which appear to be damaged spots on the fin's rays.

Boxermom wrote:Fins can have small white spots as well. There are several recent threads about it. My new fakaha has them as well, which appear to be damaged spots on the fin's rays.

sort of like scars or scabs?

Yup, or white spots on fingernails.

it does look just like that! Thank you, so I shouldn't worry?
It is on his fins as well, but again, I shouldn't worry?

Thank you thank you all!!

If it looks like the pictures, nothing to worry about. Just spines.

For the fins, try this: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... inger+nail http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/vie ... php?t=7423

I came home tonight and was convinced my puffer was dead. At first I couldn't find him and when I did he looked stiff and was rocking in the current. He really looked dead, but it turns out he was just sleeping.

This puffer is going to give me a heart attack!

Colour3985 wrote: This puffer is going to give me a heart attack!

they will do that to ya

My bet is that is is white spot. Both my Ceylons got that and the LFS told me that they are real prone to it when stressed. A new tank is enough to stress them enough.

Easy to get rid of with treatment though.

Colour3985 wrote:I came home tonight and was convinced my puffer was dead. At first I couldn't find him and when I did he looked stiff and was rocking in the current. He really looked dead, but it turns out he was just sleeping.

This puffer is going to give me a heart attack!

mine does that, and his colour fades too, he soon comes too and his colour comes back also, then begs for food ect