The Puffer Forum

Hi im new around here, though i see some familiar names from the DP forum here I hope to be here a lot now, as I just brought home a SAP last night. He was kept in an over stocked tank and exposed to both internal and external parasites (the first one we picked out had a few ich spots). He was the healthiest of the bunch, but my heart went out to all of them (they were all sickly, scared and fins chewed up). So anyway, Im going to be treating him for IP's in quarantine for 2 weeks, but I was wondering if putting in salt is necessary right now. Should I wait to see if he develops any white spots? I know he was exposed to it, could there be a chance he doesnt have it? I just don't want to give him any unnecessary stress w/ adding salt right away (unless you guys feel it is necessary). Thanks.

Welcome StacyShah.


I personally would hold off on the salt for now and carry on with your treatment. It sounds like you have everything in hand and if you start to see the outbreak of Ich have some aquarium salt ready to kill the pesky parasite.

Hope the little fella pulls through.

I have the temp right now at 81 F, can SAPs handle up to 86F? Should I start raising it? I did find a few spots so am going ahead w/ treatment. Thanks for the reply Im glad to be here, it's so comforting to be able to ask advice from other fish keepers...how nerve wrecking it must have been to have a sick fish b4 the internet

If you have a look at the top of the hospital forum there's a sticky on treating ich which gives you all the treating ich details, if you havent already read it that is.

I dont think you should raise the temp anymore you've already got it high enough to speed up the life cycle of the ich. Just follow the instructions in the sticky and your SAP and hopefully your SAP will be at full strength in a few weeks.

And then we want pics.

thanks. I think she will pull through, she seems very happy and doesn't show any signs of stress (not climbing the tank walls like Ive read a lot of them do) I think she's loving her alone time for now, being in such an over stocked tank w/ not even 1 plant to hide behind...I noticed today she has quite a few bite marks on her belly. I've also changed my mind and believe it to be a girl I'll put some pics on here too.

The bite marks will heal over time, SAP's are generally schooling fish and will swim happily with each other but it sounds like they were overstocked in too small a tank. Enough to make any SAP cranky.

her ich spots are much worse today.

At least the life cycle is beginning, how's he doing apart from the Ich?

apparently saps are extreemly prone to ich.

This is what mine died of. i would recommend a temperature no warmer than 85 degrees. Add salt regularly and do frequent water changes. I hope your little guy pulls through.

Best of luck. keep us updated.

She's doing very well, just plays in the airstone bubbles all day and rides the current. I can tell she's getting sick of her little quarantine tank though, she has a lot of energy and just wants to go swimming! I have her setup next to my DP tank so she can mingle w/ them through the glass. This has the little DPs very interested, the SAP Im not sure even realizes they're there. I believe she'll pull through, she seems spunky enough and Im doing water changes everyday...w/ salt of course. Thanks