The Puffer Forum

Hi Pufferpunk and all

I am taking over my old tank from Bronwyn (cape town) with GSP (Shermy),

I am moving everything back to my place this weekend.

Went to visit Shermy last night i saw he had a bad case of Ich (not just white spots but more white patches)

I know the move will be a stressful affair for him, and with the ich and all i just wanted to get your thoughts on the best way to deal with the situation.

From your write up you suggested dropping the SG. at the moment it is at 1.010. i shall drop the SG Slowly as you have suggested and will not use copper treatment. (hopefully this will solve the ich problem)

I have also ordered a new tank as the old one has a few scratches and i like the idea of starting with new tank (23 gals). Shermy is now about 2" and i will invest in a bigger tank in the future when he grows more.


Also A few questions regarding the move:

1. Can i full the tank (once moved) with freshly mixed water (100% water change). (obviously ensuring that the PH, SG, and temp is the same as before) and just put the existing substrate and filters with bacteria in onto the tank ?

2. Would it be to stressful to also give Shermy a Fresh water dipp before putting him into the new tank?

3. If i give the substrate a good clean (rinse with fresh water) or add new substrate, will this make the tank re-cycle again (even with the matured filters on)?

4. If i changed substrate and do a 100% water change with new tank, but kept the filters and bacteria, would this cause the tank to cycle again ? and would this help rid the ich faster (if i gave him a fresh water dip before introducing him into the new tank ?

5. what are the chances of me moving and getting rid of the ich (or should i say is the whole ordeal going to be to stressfull for Shermy to handle)

i really want to try and ensure 3 year old Shermy survives this whole ordeal.

Everyones input ,suggestions, stories of similar experiences are wellcome.

White patches is usually not ich. Ich looks like small round salt grains. What do the white patches look like?

it is very difficult to see from the pics, but defiantly is more patchy that and not grainy like ich, what do you think it could be ?

Patchy and not grainy is more likely a fungus rather than ich. Treatment is generally Melafix and Pimafix.

Are the patches kinda golden?

I just spoke to tracee, she says that they look more like white flakes??

I will ask the LSF about those two products although i do remember getting a confused look from the Owner last time i asked about melafix.

Can they be ordered online?

I have found some Melafix and Priafix and am going to order them anyway as i have read the articles about there benefits. will these help with the white patches ?

If the spots are fungal or basic bacterial, they should work.

I just got the melafix and primafix, can i treat the tank with both products at the same time ?

Yes, IME they work best when used together.

HI All

The move was a success! Shermy seems to be on a path to a good recovery, Day three of M&Pfix, the white patches or flakes are still visible, still a little dark from stress, but he is very relaxed and swimming around curiously

Trying to get a snail colony going again, could only find babies though.

Thanks for all the excellent advice!

Just an update: Shermy is looking better, with the black stress marks are starting to go away and bright colors slowly returning, the white patches are still visible and no signs of them going away yet (still two days to go of P&Mfix). He is otherwise fine showing signs of normal puffer behavior

I managed to get some video footage, please have a look and let me know what you think the white marks are? they look like cuts in the skin to me. Shermy has finished 7 days of M&Pfix treatment. If the white marks are cuts, how long should they take to heal?

http://www.area51.co.za/Puffer/Cap01.wmv

There's definitel something not right with that fish. Looks like a tumor or something bulging on his side.

He almost looks like he was chewed up and spit out and survived the ordeal with some mutilation, his left side looks like he's got a hernia(can fish even get these? The bulge definately is odd, BM) and the healing marks look like skin damage.