Question on porcupine pufferfish

Porcupine Reefer · Sep 9, 2023

Hey guys I wanted you all to know about my porcupine puffer fish, for some time now not only has he not been eating much, but he also damaged his left eye, and his tail fin is rotting away. Despite all this though he still swims around and is still responsive when I wave my hand at the tank. Is it possible for him to make a full recovery (fully restoring his left eye and regrowing his tail fin) or is he too far gone at this point?

littlefoxx · Sep 9, 2023

Oh wow no idea, time to call in the fish medics @vetteguy53081 @Jay Hemdal @lion king @fishguy242 @MnFish1

vetteguy53081 · Sep 9, 2023

Porcupine Reefer said:
Hey guys I wanted you all to know about my porcupine puffer fish, for some time now not only has he not been eating much, but he also damaged his left eye, and his tail fin is rotting away. Despite all this though he still swims around and is still responsive when I wave my hand at the tank. Is it possible for him to make a full recovery (fully restoring his left eye and regrowing his tail fin) or is he too far gone at this point?

Im interested in condition of the other fish as this may be a bacterial issue as well as mechanical injury to the eye. With the eye discoloration , this may be either retina damage or internal eye fluke. Ethromyacin - maracyn, not maracyn Oxy may help but hard to predict what will be outcome with this damage. Seachem Kanaplex will address the tail rot as well as eye also as well as any development of popeye
What is current nitrate - ammonia- salinity levels and how are you testing them?

Jay Hemdal · Sep 10, 2023

What other fish are in with it? It is unusual for eye and fin damage to just show up with no root cause.
The sclera of the eye has an area of ulceration at the center - if that penetrates too deeply, the eye likely won’t heal normally.
I be agree that you will likely need to move this fish to a hospital tank and treat with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic.
Jay