New to this but I have a dogface puffer question!!

Marine_Mama · Apr 11, 2019

I have had my DFP for about a month and he has been totally happy. The past 2 days I noticed he has been looking like he was covered in sand. Like Ich, but a lot. I heard somewhere that puffers couldn’t even get ich but I am ignorant to the subject. The parameters of my tank are all normal, aside from my salinity taking a strange spike from 1.025ppm to 1.027ppm. I have corrected the levels since but I am worried for my puffer. Any tips or advice?!

I tried to attach an image, if it posted, it is of him resting on top of a power head. He does this often and I believe he enjoys it lol

Crabs McJones · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

#WelcometoR2R
Was the puffer quarantined, are there any other fish in with it, was something introduced into the tank recently? I'm no expert, but it may be velvet with how covered he is. Lets ask @HotRocks and @4FordFamily what they think

mike werner · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome to r2r!!

4FordFamily · Apr 11, 2019

That does look like velvet

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

MSB123 · Apr 11, 2019

Tank size? Parameters right now? What stocking? can you upload a full tank picture?

Marine_Mama · Apr 11, 2019

Yes he was QT, there is a damsel, a snowflake eel, a few hermit crabs, and a chocolate chip starfish. A small harlequin shrimp as well but he is in his own section of the tank

Salty Lemon · Apr 11, 2019

Puffers can indeed get ich -- but this seems extreme. Crabs has already contacted the experts.

Salty Lemon · Apr 11, 2019

Salty Lemon said:
Puffers can indeed get ich -- but this seems extreme. Crabs has already contacted the experts.

Oh...And welcome to R2R!

dbl · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome to R2R and thanks for signing up.

Marine_Mama · Apr 11, 2019

I can upload a picture tomorrow of whole tank when my lights are on, he is resting now that the lights are off and I don’t want to stress him out. He is in a 30gal, I KNOW he needs more room and he will be getting it soon. None of the other fish/eel have this on them.

Salinity is 1.025ppm
pH: 8.0
Nitrite: 0.25ppm (higher than normal)
Nitrate: 40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
Calcium: 460ppm

MSB123 · Apr 11, 2019

Marine_Mama said:
I can upload a picture tomorrow of whole tank when my lights are on, he is resting now that the lights are off and I don’t want to stress him out. He is in a 30gal, I KNOW he needs more room and he will be getting it soon. None of the other fish/eel have this on them.

Salinity is 1.025ppm
pH: 8.0
Nitrite: 0.25ppm (higher than normal)
Nitrate: 40ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm
Calcium: 460ppm

Nitrite needs to be 0. Please get him a tank of 200 gallons or more. How long was the tank cycled?

scriptmonkey · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome sorry to meet under these circumstances. Hope the little guy feels better soon.

Lukas75 · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome!

Seawitch · Apr 11, 2019

Welcome to the forum. There's a sub forum just on sick fish where you can get more focused help. I hope he feels better soon.

Steelersfan · Apr 11, 2019

It appears to be velvet. Being sensitive to bright lights and moving towards power heads are a few signs of velvet.

scriptmonkey · Apr 11, 2019

Steelersfan said:
It appears to be velvet. Being sensitive to bright lights and moving towards power heads are a few signs of velvet.

Seems that is the consensus. See if I went off of those two things about the powerhead and lights, my inexperience would led me to it had a hangover.

Big G · Apr 12, 2019

Welcome to R2R and sorry your intro had to be with a sick puffer

But that looks like velvet. Puffers don't usually do well in copper. Preferred treatment is with CP for ich/velvet.

Here's a neat chart that show which treatment is best for fish. There is a note below the chart specifically mentioning puffers. I have treated puffers with chelated copper (Copper Power) and the fish have done well. But it was prophyllactic treatment where as yours is needed to be at therapeutic levels ASAP. So CP is the best as you go directly to therapeutic level:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-and-treatment-guidelines-with-chart.283450/#post-3449648

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/#post-2204093