Need a diagnosis please

Ragtop68rs · Feb 1, 2017

My porcupine puffer has a big white blotch on his tail and the underside of his stomach is covered in white. I just moved him to quarintine yesterday. He stopped eating last week. Any ideas what this could be? I'm not sure what to try treating him with. I put some prazipro in last night just hoping it will help. Thanks

Maritimer · Feb 1, 2017

I'm going to suggest that is more likely bacterial than flukes, which is Prazi-Pro does best ... but I'd like our resident experts to chime in as well. - @Humblefish - @melypr1985 - When they chime in, listen very carefully to what they have to say! If it is bacterial in nature, you're going to want some antibiotics - maybe Furan-2 and Kanaplex?

~Bruce

4FordFamily · Feb 1, 2017

That looks bacterial to me as well, this is becoming very common recently!

Furan 2 and kanaplex would be the best way to treat, in a quarantine tank. Antibiotics are slow moving in fish so start treatment asap. That fish doesn't look so good as it is. :/

melypr1985 · Feb 1, 2017

4FordFamily said:
Furan 2 and kanaplex would be the best way to treat, in a quarantine tank. Antibiotics are slow moving in fish so start treatment asap. That fish doesn't look so good as it is. :/

+1 That's a bacterial infection and a pretty bad one. I would run the tripple thread on this guy and do it asap. Kanaplex, Furan 2 and metroplex.... all at the same time.. follow the directions on each box and really up the O2 in the QT while this is going on.

Quick question: When did you first notice this on the puffer? When you noticed it was it already this bad?

Ragtop68rs · Feb 1, 2017

It was close to that a bad when I noticed it. I'll start the meds now. I have the kana and metroplex but I don't have furan 2.
Is there something I can do in my display tank to prevent my other fish from getting this? It's a 300g FOWLR. Just a few snails and crabs, no coral. Thanks

melypr1985 · Feb 1, 2017

Ragtop68rs said:
It was close to that a bad when I noticed it. I'll start the meds now. I have the kana and metroplex but I don't have furan 2.
Is there something I can do in my display tank to prevent my other fish from getting this? It's a 300g FOWLR. Just a few snails and crabs, no coral. Thanks

Go ahead and start the two you have. I would suggest getting the furan 2 as well as soon as you can. As far as the FOWLR, I would be more concerned with what caused the infection in the first place. These are typically secondary to a parasitic infestation of some kind. It could have started from an injury of course, but typically it's a parasite at the root. Keep an eye on the rest of the fish and watch for symptoms like:
Breathing heavily
Flashing or scratching
Swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return
Spots (big or small)
A dusty/dirty appearance
yawning
Head twitching
Hiding excessively
lack of appetite

Ragtop68rs · Feb 1, 2017

I got the furan 2 and an air stone. I'm afraid it may be too late for him though. Hopefully not.

melypr1985 · Feb 1, 2017

Ragtop68rs said:
I got the furan 2 and an air stone. I'm afraid it may be too late for him though. Hopefully not.

All you can do is try. If he's still eating, that's a good sign. Best of luck

Ragtop68rs · Feb 1, 2017

He hasn't ate in at least 4 or 5 days. He's still swimming around good. Thanks

4FordFamily · Feb 1, 2017

Keep us posted! Good luck.

Ragtop68rs · Feb 3, 2017

Update. Puffer is still hanging in there. The part of his tail that was white is now gone. It looks like a big hole in his tail. He is still swimming around good but still won't eat anything.