The Puffer Forum

I have to start by saying that I am new to the puffer family. I have a 125 saltwater tank that just was converted from a reef tank to a fish only tanks. It has an ultimate golden puffer (5") and a Rainbow wrasse. The both have ich and cloudy eyes. I am currently in the process of hypo salinity to help get rid of the ich. Should I also do a fresh water dip on my puffer to help him fight the ich? I also think he has an internal parasite, I saw him poop for the first time and it was like mucus, not solid. I was given melafix to help clear up there eyes. What else should I be doing??? Please help!!!!

Love the name! Do you see ich/cloudy eyes on the wrasse now too? I have seen this puffer & is it heavily infested with the parasites. I suggest a FW bath for 5-10 minutes with the Melafix (1 drop/gallon). Take the puffer out of the bath, if it seems stressed. Did you read the article on treating SW puffers w/ich?

A freshwater bath less than 15 minutes really is a "waste of time". The parasite uses the fish's skin as protection and requires a bath of at least 15 minutes - 30 is ideal. This is what I have found most effective and is advocated by the fish vets - Dr Noga, Dr Lewbart, Dr Stoskopf....

I would recommend adding methylene blue to the freshwater bath instead of melafix. Methylene blue will help with the parasite removal and may help with oxygenation....melafix has been reported to stress and often suffocate fish.

I'm so glad you saw this one, Kelly. Funny, I had 20-30 minutes posted but wasn't sure if that would be too stressful, so edited it to 5-10. You always know best but I haven't seen you around here lately, so I did the best I could.

I usually check daily but only reply to those that pertain to saltwater (and when I have something else to add) as brackish and freshwater are "out of my league".......haven't been as many saltwater lately.

That's what I was hoping.

okay guys thanks for that - but here is a small problem. I added the melafix to the tank last night after you left should I do a water change? or just keep lowering the salinity to 1.09. Please help I don't want to loose him! I am waiting for a call back from my vet to get him some medication for the parasite.

Also, should I have the skimmer off during this - I lowered the air intake so it gives me stiff bubbles.

Oh, my vet called she has some praziquantel, how much should I dose and for how long. She suggested to put him in a small container and inject it near his tale. Would this be the best thing for him. She also said that the bottle has 56.8mg per ML what would a dose be injected or dipped. Let me know if you can she will be there until 5:45pm today.

Injection may work, but she'd have to do it, and dose perfectly. The safest way is to soak food in it overnight in the refrigerator, and offer only food soaked in that way for a week.

Although I generally agree with listening to Kelly on everything, I don't think the Melafix is harmful if used correctly. Add an airstone, if you're concerned about O2 depletion. I do agree not to use it in the dip.

do you recommend a dose form him? I have no idea.

sorry let me clarify that, how much should he get? I have no idea and I do not think she has ever had to medicate a puffer before.

I tend to agree on the melafix, though I use it pretty sparingly compared to the directions on the bottle. (IE, airstone, and water changes in between). I'm not surprised that very high does on an already stressed fish would worsen the situation. I've also never witnessed any ill effects myself, nor seen reports of it.

Like any medication, it should be used sparingly and judiciously.

I have experienced problems with oxygen depletion and have had several hobbyists come to me with the same problem using melafix for external parasites.

DO NOT inject the praziquantel.....many fish develop necrosis at the site. Several fish vets and public aquariums have relayed this information to me.

What about adding an airstone, when using Melafix? I really believe in this stuff & want to continue suggesting it's use.