SICK MBU PUFFER, HELP ASAP

[Assuluto]

The long and short of it is that my Mbu (in a 120L tank) has recently contracted white spot, my LFS advised me to use two thirds stated dosage of WS3 every 24 hours, but the day after the first dosage he gained more spots, i've now done just under full dosage today but i was informed that some medical treatment such as WS3 can lead to a lack of oxygen in the water according to people on another site. Is this true? Just to be sure of it i have added a water stone to the tank to help increase the oxygen levels and directed to output slow of water from my internal filter to get as much surface agetation as possible. Could the lack of oxygen explain the reason why he is breathing so fast and hovering near the top of the tank?

 

[Alien Anna]

I've used WS3 and it can theoretically impair the biological filtration of your tank (which in turn can lead to oxygen depletion). However, since whitespot is dangerous if untreated, I think the main thing is to keep an eye on your ammonia and nitrites and do a water change the instant you see any problems.

As for the spots, the treatment only kills the ich when its free-swimming, not when its on the fish, so the spots could well get worse before they get better. Ease the temperature up (people on the forum have said 86F, provided you increase it gradually) and if your fish can tolerate it, add salt.

The ich infection could explain your fish's general appearance of unwellness, rather than oxygen deprivation directly.

There is a pinned topic on the subject of ich, but I can't find it. Anyone?

 

[Assuluto]

I have increaed the temp to about 28-29°c (84-86F) and i done a 20% waterchange the day i noticed his illness (Saturday). What type of salts do you reccomend and would they be alright for use with the puffer (and a plec in the same tank)?

Thanks

 

[Alien Anna]

I have increaed the temp to about 28-29°c (84-86F) and i done a 20% waterchange the day i noticed his illness (Saturday). What type of salts do you reccomend and would they be alright for use with the puffer (and a plec in the same tank)?

Thanks

Plecs cannot tolerate salt but most puffers are brackish water fish and require salt. But I'm not really the person to ask because I've never kept puffers. Is there any way you could seperate the two so that you could better treat the ich?

 

[Assuluto]

Also i forgot to add he's a true freshwater Puffer

 

[Pufferpack]

Here is the reply I recieved from some experienced puffer caretakers, when my S/A's got Whitespot a while back.

Copper is BAD for puffers! Did you just introduce a new fish without quarantining it? I've been keeping fish for over 25 years & I never use meds for ich. 80% water changes every other day (with gravel vacuming), raising the temp to 85-87 degrees & 1 tbsp salt/5gal should get rid of it.

I have Ottos in with my puffers so was worried about their reaction to salt, but was assured they would be fine with this amount. I don't know if it would be the same for the plec. You could try a salt dip for the MBU rather than salting the tank.

 

[Pufferpack]

eep!

 

[Assuluto]

But do you hink the salt method would work for my Mbu? And what kind of salt?

 

[Assuluto]

Just another question, but why is it that people start talking about Ich when i said my fish has white-spot, this has happend on another forum aswell

 

[Alien Anna]

Just another question, but why is it that people start talking about Ich when i said my fish has white-spot, this has happend on another forum aswell

"White spot" is just the common name for ich. It's the same thing.

 

[Pufferpack]

I'm pretty sure Fresh water salt (tonic) will do the trick, but not posative. Here is a good link for treating Puffers with Ich Puffers and Ich

as well as a thread on salt treatments that may help some: Salt for Ich

edit: after doing some more reserch I found the following thread discussing salt dips Salt Dip or not to Salt Dip

 

[Assuluto]

I've been reassured by my LFS about my Mbu and know that i cant actually kill white spot till it drops off. And it hasn't done that yet, according to most guides fro treating Ich I think it should be sometime tomorrow that it happens.

Thanks for the help

Oh and Pufferpack, i've noticed you keep SA puffer, how do you trim their teeth cos the teeth on my onesa re getting quite long, and they wont try to eat anything bigger than them (i.e. a cockle in thr shell) so can you reccomend any other foods which i can give them that will grind their teeth down? Also, why are yours so "rounded"? My two are more streamlined and thin (they are bout 2" long inc. tail fin)

 

[Assuluto]

Somehow i quad posted, sorry about that

 

[Pufferpack]

Oh and Pufferpack, i've noticed you keep SA puffer, how do you trim their teeth cos the teeth on my onesa re getting quite long, and they wont try to eat anything bigger than them (i.e. a cockle in thr shell) so can you reccomend any other foods which i can give them that will grind their teeth down?

Here is a link to the whole proceedure...I have to perform it on 2 of mine real soon , they are starting to get food caught in their teeth.
Puffer Article...near the bottom of the article.
S/A's teeth grow about the fastest of all the puffers, a steady diet of shelled foods only is about the only way you are going to avoid trimming the teeth at some point.

Also, why are yours so "rounded"? My two are more streamlined and thin (they are bout 2" long inc. tail fin)

because mine are little pigs , I get my best pics after they have eaten in the morning...by 6:00 pm they are streamlined again