FAQs about Burrfishes, Porcupinefishes Trauma
FAQs on Burrfish Disease:
Burrfish Disease 1, Burrfish Disease 2, Burrfish Disease 3, Burrfish Disease 4,
Burrfish Disease 5, Burrfish
Disease ,
FAQs on
Burrfish Disease Disease by Category:
Diagnosis,
Environment,
Nutrition,
Social, Pathogenic,
Treatments
Related Articles: Burrfishes/Porcupinefishes, Puffers in General, Puffer Care and
Information, A Saltwater Puffer Primer:
Big Pufferfish! by Mike Maddox, Pufferfish Dentistry By Kelly Jedlicki and Anthony Calfo,
True Puffers, Freshwater Puffers,
Tobies/Sharpnose Puffers,
Boxfishes
Related FAQs: Diodontids 1, Diodontids 2, Diodontids 3, Burrfish Identification, Burrfish Behavior, Burrfish Compatibility, Burrfish Selection, Burrfish Systems, Burrfish Feeding, Burrfish Reproduction, Puffers in General, Puffer Selection, Puffer Behavior, Puffer Systems, Puffer Feeding, Puffer Disease, Puffer Dentistry, Puffer
Reproduction, True Puffers,
Freshwater to
Brackish Puffers, Tobies/Sharpnose
Puffers, Boxfishes,
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Net, hauling, bagging damage... bites, pokes from other
livestock.... gulping air and or water... Run-ins with hard, sharp
decor, rock, pump intakes...
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Pls help. Possible prolapsed colon on baby porc puffer
8/8/19
I do rescue. And my first love are puffer fish. A baby came in about a week ago.
He had flukes and I treated his hospital tank w PraziPro. The flukes disappeared
and a small bacterial infection arrived on his back where the flukes had been. I
used Kanamycin to resolve that.
All has been going well he eats well and is active but today he had a large
jelly type mass hanging from his bottom.
<Yikes; see this in your pic>
It was quite long and I was able to touch the end of it and hold it. One piece
broke off and it does not feel or look like waste. I was concerned it could be
internal but there is no redness or swelling around the bottom. He still eats
and swims to get his food. I'm hoping it could be parasites exiting but I'm
still very concerned it could be prolapse. It is not pink but clear or almost
tan colored. It is a variety of shapes. He is bottom sitting and breathing a bit
hard but still eats.
<Good>
In the week he's been here he's been alone in a hospital tank eats well but as I
clean his tank I dont see alot of waste. My larger puffers expel solid waste
that I vacuum up but I haven't seen much with this little puffer. He is about
the length of your index finger. Any guidance on how to help appreciated. My
reef shop owners I know have not seen anything like this.
Here is a short video..
<Mmm; just the still, which is fine>
I'm feeding a krill w Metroplex to assist if this is internal parasite related
and also with some new life spectrum probiotic pellets and garlic oil.
<I do hope/trust that this is either some sort of distended waste or part of the
G.I. that will waste and decompose outside the animal, or be returned. I would
continue on the treatment regimen you list.
Bob Fenner>
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Re Thank you. Possible prolapsed colon on baby porc puffer
8/9/19
Waste/jelly thing passed with him really wiggling against the glass for
about 5 minutes. He was able to pass what looked like a hard ball of poo
which was attached to now what appears to be mucus. This could be IP
<IP?>
related or some other reason his internal organs are making mucus. But
luckily it's over. He still bottom sits and I'm going to wc and begin
treatment w a rid ick product which has safer on my puffers. I'll continue
to feed the anti ip med on his krill.
<Ok>
I stopped the kanamycin for now to let him deal w that blockage but if his
bacteria infection is not fully healed should I start up again with the
kanamycin until it is?
Meds I'd be using in overlap in treatment would be Kanamycin for the
bacterial infection, the Metroplex on food but not dosing in tank and Kordon
rid ick plus which is a formalin type product w Methylene blue.
Do you see any contradictions with these? Thank you again.
<Mmm; no; but do take care w/ the formalin... a biocide; very toxic. Best to
use in a dip/bath fashion; NOT added to the system water itself. Bob Fenner>
Re: Thank you. Possible prolapsed colon on baby porc puffer
8/9/19
Ok ty. Can you advise how long to do a bath for him? The rid ick doesn't
kill it on the fish but kills it in tank and in larval stage on live rock..
<Please search on WWM for formalin, baths and Cryptocaryon. B>
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Porcupine fish in trouble
7/9/17
I've had a porcupine fish for about 1 year now with no real problems. I
woke up this morning and he looked fine. I left to pay some bills and
came back and noticed the spikes by his face are sticking up.
I checked on him a
few minutes later, and one of the spikes is broken and dangling
on his face. My very active fish is now laying on the sand breathing
heavy. Do those spikes grow back?
<They can; yes>
What can do to save him?? He's my favorite fish! I want to put him in my
QT tank, but am scared, because of his heavy breathing. PLEASE HELP...
thank you
<... What do you consider the cause here? Has this fish encountered a
pump intake or such? Another fish attack it? Did it traumatize itself by
swimming into something? I would do what water test/checks you can, and
the
usual default of changing out a quarter of the system water; renew the
chemical filter media. Bob Fenner>
Porcupine Puffer suddenly has injured eye - attacked by Annularis
Angelfish 3/16/16
Hello there. I need some help with treating an eye injury in my porcupine
puffer. He was totally healthy until yesterday. When I got home from work
I noticed him sitting in a little hiding spot in the rocks rather than greeting
me like normal. I also noticed my Annularis angelfish being dominant to him
(swimming into him and briefly nipping at his face - my puffer backed away). I
haven't seen this before. I'm not sure if the Angelfish did this damage to my
puffer or if it was monopolizing on the situation. Regardless, I put a 55L
plastic bin with holes drilled in it in my tank (180 gallon) to isolate the
pufferfish.
<Good move>
Puffer's eyes are cloudy white and have what look like injuries on them.
<How long have you had this puffer? Might be parasitic involvement here...
Trematodes, possibly Crypt>
Sorry I don't have a picture. The whiteness is more on the bottom half of the
eyes. The skin directly below the eye is also slightly damaged (white). It looks
like the other fish picked at him (from the bottom
direction) over and over and injured his eyes/skin below the eye.
He was in isolation overnight. When I checked on him this morning he was pretty
similar except the bottom of the eyes seems to be "sagging" slightly. He can't
see well and bumps off the walls of the container, and
since his eyes stick out that's the part that keeps bumping things. I'm not sure
how to keep his eyes from contacting the walls.
<Me neither>
I'm concerned about a secondary bacterial infection developing. Is there an
antibiotic I can give him orally (he's eating very well) so I don't have to
isolate him in a quarantine tank?
<None that are effective unless the fish is eating; can be introduced via foods>
Or, I do you recommend I quarantine him and treat the water with antibiotics or
copper?
<? For what? I would not simply expose this animal, system w/o a purpose>
Please advise for the best course of action to help him heal and recover.
<The usual: Reading:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BurrfishDisF5.htm
see the linked files above? Disease by Category? Social, Trauma.... read>
Very concerned fish owner.
Valarie
<And the Angel and Puffer will have to housed separately. Bob
Fenner>
P.S. Water quality:
180 gallon
76 degrees F
Salinity 1.0225
PH - 8.1
Carbonate Hardness: 15dkh
Phosphate = 0.25
Ammonia and Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0.3 (I did a 10% water change the night before his eye got bad -
trying to bring this down).
Re: Porcupine Puffer suddenly has injured eye - attacked by Annularis Angelfish
3/17/16
HI Bob. Thank you for the prompt reply. I've done a lot of reading. Your website
is a wealth of information!
<Ah yes; many hours have gone into WWM>
I've had the puffer for two weeks. The fish store I bought him from had him for
a month prior and he seemed healthy (I had my eye on him for a while and they
held him for me for a few weeks), so I'm skeptical that it's
a parasite, especially with how quickly this happened (in a 8 hour period).
<Well; I wouldn't discount the possibility entirely. Some do show up very
quickly (clinically)>
For now I'll keep him in my main tank, but in the isolation bin and continue
with daily 10% water changes to get the nitrates down. I've also kept the lights
off so the tank is not so bright.
<Good>
He is still eating great.
<A VERY good indication of health; recovery>
Do you have a recommended antibiotic I can feed him while he's still in my main
tank to prevent a secondary bacterial infection, or will even edible antibiotics
wipe out my biofilter?
<Some anti... microbials, -biotics more than others. I'd rather you soak, lace
the foods with vitamins, HUFAs, probiotics... there are such prep.s available
commercially... Selcon, Micro-Vit....>
I've been feeding him Hikari brand frozen clams on a half shell. Also bought
some raw shrimp from the grocery store (mainly to feed my zebra moray eel) and
sometimes the puffer grabs pieces of that.
<Mmm; Oh, see this below.... Please read on WWM re Thiaminase poisoning>
Are these okay to continue feeding on a regular basis, or do you recommend
adding something else to their (both puffer and eel) diet to make sure they're
getting enough Thiamine vitamin and not too much thiaminase?
<Oh! Yes... fish, fillet or whole small>
Crab leg pieces?
<Invite me over!>
Selcon soak?
<Yes!>
The angel is going back to the fish store because this tank was set up
specifically for my puffer. :-(
<Ahh; this is the better choice>
Thanks again for your time.
<Glad to share. Bob Fenner>
Porcupine puffer having a bad week
10/13/15
<Why seven MEGS of pix files, WHY?>
Hi crew.
I wish I was writing under happier circumstances but unfortunately my poor
puffer has had a very rough week and I find myself looking to you guys for
some help.
<Oh>
To start, I've had him roughly 6 months. No illnesses to mention. My water
parameters in his new solitary 55gal hospital tank are:
Sal: 1.025
Nitrate: <20
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
pH: 8.3
79degrees
<This all is fine>
This problems all started 5 days ago when he was attacked by my (now
rehomed) Dardanus Megistos. He nearly lost his entire right fin and had
some other surface cuts. I'll include photos at the bottom for reference.
He seemed to be alright for the days following the attack, normal
behaviour, swimming, resting, eating, breathing normal so I left him in the
main tank with his buddies. Well three days in I noticed the cowfish
picking at his wound and decided to set up a hospital tank for him to
recover in peace. His new home is bare bones. Glass bottom. One fake log
cave. Air stone. Powerhead. Heater. Side filter. One of those 'all
included' kits from the store jobs. I set it up with 35% water from the
main tank and the rest fresh mix, like a big water change. He's been in
there 24hours at this time. He's been fed once and he accepted it normally.
My main concern is his breathing appears to be very laboured. Mouth open.
Almost gasping. At a slight inclined angle, not sitting on the ground. At
first I thought the side filter wasn't providing enough aeration so I put
in the air stone to bump it up but he hasn't improved. I see no visible
sign of illness on his body but he appears to be hiccupping? When I
transferred him to his new tank I ushered him into a juice jug and to my
knowledge, never let him come in contact with the air. He did partly puff
for a brief second while in the jug but he quickly let it out and never
puffed again since.
Would you be concerned about this laboured breathing?
<Only a bit... likely still recovering from the Hermit and Hovercraft fish
traumas>
What about treating his injuries?
<Oh; yes; the reading: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/SWPuffTraumaF.htm
and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BurrfshTraumaF.htm
Your advice is very much appreciated!!
I included a video, hopefully you're able to view it.
<Henceforth, PLEASE store someplace (e.g. YouTube) and just send along the
link>
Your biggest fan,
Renee
<There's something there. Bob Fenner>
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Re: Porcupine puffer having a bad week
10/13/15
Mr. Fenner,
<Hey Renee>
Thank you very much for your quick reply. I'll keep my eye on him and watch
for infections. I've also blocked off my intakes a little better after
reading those pages you linked me. Preventative measures!
<Perhaps a bit of Epsom>
Your site is truly amazing. The FAQs on Marine Treatment Tanks was
everything I needed and more to make this possible!
Kind regards,
Renee
<And you, BobF>
Re: Porcupine puffer having a bad week
11/18/15
Good evening Bob,
<Good morrow now here Renee>
Just a quick follow up for you. The puffer took about a week to acclimatize to
his new home.
<Mmm; about right>
He is loving his new digs! All his dead spines and skin shed off by week three.
His fin joint took exactly a month to become useful, begin undulating properly
again, and over the last three days his fin has made impressive gains in size!
<Yay!>
I'd expect it to be entirely healed in less than two weeks. What an incredible
thing to witness. Why can't we regrow our parts? Haha
<Some day soon>
Thanks again for everything you and your amazing team provide!
<Welcome dear>
Goodnight,
Renee
<BobF>
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Porcupine puffer is ...poisoned? Another Siganid incident,
incomp. 3/16/14
I have a porcupine puffer and a foxface Rabbitfish in a 110 gallon.
<Mmm>
They both were doing great until last night. I heard a commotion of some
sort in the corner of the tank.
By the time I got over there, whatever was going on was over, but my
porcupine was puffed and sitting on the bottom of the tank. He is much
paler than normal and now lays on his side on the bottom.
Did the Rabbitfish poison him? How can I fix it?
<Maybe... I'd separate these two of course... but really, just time
going by, good care will see if the Diodontid recovers or no. Bob
Fenner>
Please and thank you!
Spiny Box Puffer Problem 7/13/12
Hey Bob,
<Johnathan>
I'm currently a marine biology student at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA and I
just started volunteering at the Baton Rouge Zoo. They have a
small aquarium there and today I was working with some of the animals.
One is a Spiny Box Puffer and she's a beautiful lady. However,
there has been a development or build up of gases in one of her eyes. It
doesn't seem to affect her activity, or at least of what I have seen.
<Likely a physical trauma result. Quite common>
But it is raising concern in me. The zoo doesn't seem to be so
concerned about it themselves,
<I wouldn't be either>
which has kind of dampened my spirits. So, I did a little research
and I came across the condition exophthalmia, or PopEye.
<Yes; unilateral>
After looking at many images of the condition, it seems very similar to
what our lady here has. That's also when I found you on
wetwebmedia.com.
Is there any remedy for this that you know of?
<Just what is posted on WWM, elsewhere in my, others writings>
It looks like there are gases in her eye. Tell me what you think, and if
you want images or anything else, let me know. I want to say the
team is using Baytril to treat it.
<I wouldn't... just time going by, good care; no treatment/s called for,
advisable>
Let me know your thoughts on that as well.
Johnathan
<You have them. Bob Fenner>
Thank you.
Porcupine Puffer Pop Eye? 08/02/10
Hello,
I frantically need help!!! My fish have had Ich for about 2
weeks. They were in a 30 gallon tank, but are now in 2 10 gallon
tanks. I have already lost one Blue Jaw Female Trigger, Dragon
goby and my other Male Blue Jaw
trigger is right behind them. He prob wont make the night. I have
done everything I can think of. I was treating with Kich-Ich,
<A waste of time... had you read...>
but now I'm treating with Rid Ich.
<Are you joking and/or just trying to waste our time? Please!
In matters as dire as this, READ... don't wait for asking
questions! Rid-Ich is too toxic for treating Puffers... See WWM
(try the search tool) re these products, Cryptocaryon and
Diodontids...>
Kick-Ich wasn't working. But now I fear my Porcupine Puffer
has pop eye.
<Induced by the treatment, doubtless>
There was a large particle of Ich on her eye 2 days ago, but now
it has taken over here eye and its very clouded. It also now
looks like the skin is peeling off the center of her eye. I'm
suppose to dose the second treatment of Rid Ich tonight. I heard
that it also works on infections.
<... the formalin is a biocide. It can/does kill all
life>
But is this actually Popeye or just her eye trying to heal
itself? Please I need your help. I love the hobby, but if I
loose
<...>
all my fish, I don't want to get back into it. I attached a
photo of the puffer.
Thanks so much for all of your amazing Wet Web Media staff. I
really appreciate the help.
Kristina
<... Then use the site... as tens of thousands do every day.
BobF, bummed for the life in your care>
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Re: Porcupine Puffer Pop Eye?
2/10/10
I have tried to read your site and its not always easy trying to
find what your looking for on your site.
<How would you improve, remedy this?>
This is why I asked.
<But w/o looking first...>
I know you are experts and that is why I always come to your site
first.
But when I ask for help I don't want to be treated like I'm
wasting your time.
I was still trying to check your site for the answers last night
before I got your response, and I'm still lost.
Thanks so much for the help
<Lost re what? Please start reading here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/burrfishdisfaqs.htm
Do you see/get the types of data/information we're looking
for to help folks? Systems, history, water quality tests,
foods/feeding...?
BobF>
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Puffer Injury from Filtration --
01/12/2010
My Porcupine Puffer had a serious encounter with my filter intake. Some
how the grill came off while I was working, and I came home to find my
fish close to death.
<I'm very sorry to hear this -- have you determined how the
grill came off (and subsequently, how to prevent it from occurring
again in the future)?>
Its left fin and gill appears to be seriously injured, not to mention
it is also missing a good amount of skin between the eye and gill.
<Understandable>
The eye looks fine, and he is using it.
<This is good.>
I moved him to a hospitable tank, and now on day 2 he seems to be
moving much better but still wont eat.
<Excellent, keep up with due diligence>
Does my fish have a chance on living, and is there anything I can do to
help him?
<Absolutely -- if he's still swimming, there's more than a
good chance he'll pull through. Just keep the water parameters in
check in the quarantine, and keep an eye on the damaged areas. Likely
the feeding strike is due to
the stress of the situation -- just give it some time and I'm sure
he'll be back to his normal piggy self. Good luck!
-JustinN>
Puffer Fish Stress 11/21/09
Hey WWM,
<Alek>
While I was changing the water for my tank, I took out
<W/o lifting it into the air I hope... i.e. underwater the whole
time>
the porcupine puffer with a separate container for about 20 minutes
while the transfer of salinated water was being made. When we put him
back in, he had a strange lump on his back (imagine him partially
inflated but
only in this one spot beside his rear fin -> looks like a
tumor).
<Might be...>
I thought he may have partially inflated due to the stress and then was
in the process of deflating but that really doesn't seem to be the
case because the lump hasn't subsided in the past hour. If this
continues, what do you think caused this and what course of action
should I take with the little guy?
<You might need to "burp it"... catch, hold the fish head
up vertical and massage the air bubble forward. Search WWM re puffers,
air entrapment. Bob Fenner>
Re: Puffer Fish Stress 11/21/09
Could the he require "burping" even if I didn't take it
out of the water? I just scooped him up with a separate container when
I took him out.
<Ah, not likely then... unless this fish "gulped air" at
the surface (which does happen at times), this may be tumorous (also
not uncommon). There is no direct treatment per se that is advised
(some folks blanket medicate with antiprotozoals (e.g. Metronidazole)
and/or Anthelminthics (e.g. Levamisole)... but I would search on WWM
for "puffers, tumors" and read the cached views. Bob
Fenner>
Re: Puffer Fish Stress 11/21/09
I'm not sure if it's a tumor, I mean the whole thing appeared
within a span of an hour. I just attempted to burp him and he did
release a few bubbles and the bump subsided ever so slightly but it
remains. It's
difficult to massage the area because when I grab him my thumb is on
his stomach and the bump is on his back. Will a puffer ever burp
themselves?
<Yes... often best to be patient. In time (weeks) often such gas is
absorbed. BobF>
Porcupine puffer and
powerhead - 3-31-09
Hi. We had an accident 2 nights ago. We installed a new power head
which contained no screen. I didn't think anything of it at the
time. During the night at some point, our porcupine puffer had gotten
himself stuck to the intake. No clue how he did it now how long he was
there.
<Happens...keep the intakes screened>
In the morning I noticed him there puffed up and stuck. I unplugged the
power head and he limped away deflating. After that, the right side of
his body was bubbled out almost in a perfect circle where the power
head was. His eye on that side clouded up halfway where the power head
was as well. I hoped the swelling would go away and all would be fine
but its not. Today the swelling is gone but the circle is still there
and very white with just a small dark brown spot in it. His eye is
still cloudy and he still doesn't use the fin at all on that side
and his spikes on that side are still messed up. He still slowly swims
from side to side in the tank like he did before the accident. He
won't even look at the food I put in there. But I'm worried
that he won't make it. Is there anything I can do to help his
healing at all?
<Move him to a QT tank and treat with Methylene blue and a wide
spectrum antibiotic, a cloudy eye could be a bacterial infection. Dose
Seachem's StressGuard as well, if you can>
Will he release any toxins if he dies?
<Not directly>
What should I do? We don't have a hospital tank so he's going
to have to stay in the display tank but there are only 3 other small
fish in there and its a 50 gallon tank.
<Buy one and treat accordingly>
Please let me know what we should do. Thank you so much.
<Sorry about the long response time...good luck! - Mike Maddox>
Puffer meets filter 3/12/2009 New Puffer Stuck to Fluval
404 Hi Crew <Hi Paul> I am very much a beginner in the
terms of saltwater marine care. This is my first saltwater tank and the
2nd fish added was a Spiny Box Puffer. <Cyclichthys schoepfi a.k.a.
Striped Burrfish> Last night I got him, fell in love immediately and
carefully acclimated him to the tank. <No Quarantine?> He was
swimming around quite blissfully and accepted his first feeding of
krill with no problem. Everything was going great. Went to bed, woke up
to disaster this morning. Somehow, the cute little guy got pulled into
the filtration (a Fluval 404) and was firmly attached to the intake
this morning (he could have been stuck for hours). <Was the
screen\strainer on the intake pipe, and how big is this puffer?> I
immediately turned off and cursed my Fluval filter (and myself/pet
store for not knowing to watch out for such an obvious peril). He came
off the filter and is/was swimming when I left for work. He did eat a
krill this morning but he was really badly beaten up by the filter.
<Good sign that he is eating - do be sure to offer more than
krill> His left rear side was all stretched out, his rear fins seem
to be pulled into the wrong place (they face up and down not on the
sides anymore) his back looks a bit twisted and his tail fins do not
move at all. He propels himself solely on his front fins. Also it looks
like his skin (in the area of the suction) was pulled way out of place.
<Pretty beaten up> Kills me to think this is my fault and that I
was responsible for putting a little fish like this through so much
trauma. <Provided the intake was screened, it wasn't your
fault.> I think I will be lucky if he survives the day given his
slow lumbering movement. I've heard these guys do have a very tough
and highly resilient character but I don't see how anything could
survive the damage this poor little fish endured. <You would be
surprised how well fish can adapt\recover.> Assuming he survives, Is
there anything I should do to nurse him back to good health? <Good
water quality, proper feeding, time> Should I put him out of his
misery if most likely he will die anyhow? <Not at this point.>
Should I consider complaining to the fish store (they knew my tank
setup/filters and I asked a million question, just not the one that
would have saved him) for improper care instructions (so next time they
warn people to be wary of filters when purchasing one of these fish)?
<Not your fish store's fault either. Assuming your intake has a
strainer on it, it strikes me as strange that a puffer would get stuck
to the intake of the filter unless the fish is already in very poor
health (which would have been ruled out in quarantine) or very
small.> His tank mate is an adult Sgt. Major damsel, do i need to
quarantine the puffer when I get home from work (he was leaving him
alone this morning)? <I would not move or stress this fish for the
moment, do watch closely for aggression> I did rotate the filter
intake all the way to face the corner and put it deeper in the tank
where the intake is protected behind the heater from another indecent.
I don't think anything could get stuck in it now but I will
purchase something (sponge or cover) assuming a pet store will have
such a device tomorrow (i have to work late tonight or I would do it
today). *Tank Info* 150 gallon (glass) Fluval 404 Aqua Clear 110 Remora
(hang on) Skimmer Live Rock (30 or so lbs) Relatively Bare Open Tank
(it is still pretty new) Live Gravel Floor Single Tube Fluorescent
Hood/Lamp <Some more live rock would be beneficial, and you will
need more water movement\filtration> Please do read here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/diodontpuffers.htm
and the linked pages on the top of that page.> <Mike>
Re: Puffer meets filter Follow up.
3/12/2009
Thanks Mike,
<Hi Paul, no problem at all.>
I got the Fluval from a friend and it had no screen for the intake
port.
It had a little bent elbow and a wide spout with a cap that can be
removed from the bottom of the elbow for priming. No screen came with
it or I would have installed it.
<I see, with an uncovered intake pipe, any fish could have been
stuck>
I don't own a quarantine tank, is there another way to
quarantine?
<No there isn't>
I am very new to this hobby.
<We are all new to this at some point, no worries.>
I'm about a quarter way through "The Consciences Marine
Aquarist" by Robert M. Fenner and am reading it word for word, but
in practice I am very much a noob. (1st saltwater tank, 2nd fish) I
have also joined a forum and have been reading everything I can along
the way..
<Excellent to hear that you are reading\learning.>
Last night when I got home he was motionless on the sea bed except for
his gasping. I dropped a piece of krill and it landed really close to
him but he still didn't move to eat at all. His side had less
swelling but his side fins were moving extremely slowly and it looked
like he was in a lot of pain.
<Not unexpected, he is pretty beaten up, but all hope is not lost.
Time, good water quality, are needed here.>
After I ate dinner he was motionless. Killed me. Never thought I'd
have an emotional response to a fish,
especially within a 24-48 hour period of ownership.
<Not surprised at all. I've had entire weekends ruined for the
loss of a favorite fish.>
To answer your questions, he was about 4-5 inches long.
<Ok, again, with an uncovered intake pipe, any fish can get
stuck.>
I have been using the test strips and the water quality is okay/good on
all the strips I've used.
I have heard these test strips are not good and will be getting a
better water tester next visit to the pet store.
<Good. I use the API kits myself - easy to use and reasonably
consistent.>
How I acclimated him was a method described to me by someone along the
way... I think one of the pet stores I visited and inquired with). I
have been asking lots of questions to lots of people these days.
I really did want to avoid any casualties.
<Very Good>
Get a large plastic bowl, fill with the store water and fish. place
bowl in tank to acclimate the temperature (I made a nice little
flotation ring for the purpose). Every 15 minutes add a small bit of
the water from the tank to the fish bowl water (presumably to acclimate
him to salinity/new water?).
<Yes>
After repeating this till bowl full, use a fish net to remove fish from
bowl and dip rapidly in a fresh water (acclimated to tank temperature)
and then place in main tank.
<Not the best method in my opinion but not completely wrong either.
Do read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/acclimat.htm It covers
acclimation, and the links at the top cover dips\baths and quarantine.
The methods covered are tried and true.>
Is there something I did wrong?
<Other than not quarantining, which would not have changed the
outcome here, and trust me, you are neither the first nor the last to
not quarantine, so don't beat yourself up too much.>
I don't have a quarantine tank... I was told I could wait on a
quarantine tank till I was more or less an amateur/experienced
aquarist.
<Ahhh.. This is a popular myth, and probably a large contributor as
to why many leave this hobby so quickly. The fish are not quarantined,
fish gets sick, fish transmits disease to other fish in tank, all fish
die, owner gets discouraged\upset and leaves the hobby. A quarantine
tank need not be a large or elaborate affair. The aquarium kits
frequently sold in department stores or chain pet shops do remarkably
well for a quarantine tank for little cost - certainly less than the
cost of a tank of sick
fish.>
Paul
<Best of luck Paul, do let me know how it turns out.>
<Mike>
Porcupine puffer with damaged spine and lump
-- 08/01/07 Hi! <Hello Leah.> So I first want to say
thanks for all of the helpful information you have on your site.
<I'm glad you like it.> I've been reading through
these pages for months as I've set up my newest hobby :o)
I've successfully set up a tank with a Narrow-lined Puffer
<Nice. Haven't seen one in years.> and a Flame Hawkfish
(Save for a few Ich incidents, which have been remedied by the
recommendations I've found here). Anyway, I'm upgrading
to a 100 gallon tank since my little puffer inevitably will
become much larger, and in the process am picking up some more
tank mates. <I fully understand the desire to fill a 100
gallon tank, but honestly, doesn't upgrading and adding new
fish (which will grow quite large, too) sound paradox?> This
cute little Porcupine Puffer has been hanging out in my LFS for a
few weeks and I decided today that I must have him. He's
appeared healthy each time I've gone in to visit. Today I put
him and a Sailfin Tang (picked up at the same time) in a 20
gallon tank until my 100 gallon is established (they're both
very small still). <OK. 100 gallons may sound and look like a
lot, but you will have 2 large puffers, which each would likely
need more space than that. Your fish may work in that tank, but
be sure to have excellent filtration. Also ensure your puffer is
a Diodon holocanthus and not a D. liturosus or D. hystrix, the
latter ones get too large by far.> They've acclimated very
well and quickly, but I just sat down and noticed an oddity on
the porcupine little puff. There's a lump or bump on his
side. Looks like what an ingrown hair looks like on humans. And
in the same area, hard to tell if it's on it or next to it...
one of his spines is very long and brownish/black, as opposed to
the rest which are yellow/white for the most part. I'm
concerned this may be a problem. <Could be. I'm not sure
from a description only, but possibilities are: problem with the
base of this spine due to netting (if he was netted wrong, which
should not be the case) or a bacterial infection (see .g.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BurrfishDisFAQ2.htm for the post
'Sick porcupine puffer 05/13/07' and similar posts and
compare pictures). I'd watch and provide pristine water
quality in combination with a varied and vitamin enriched diet.
An infection would likely need sampling and a microscope or
veterinarian. Also, see if there is something moving in this
lump. Any growth of it as well as a general decline of the
puffer's health would be a signal to act, too.> His
temperament appears fine, though, so I'm hopeful it's
nothing big. <I hope so, too.> Any idea what this might me?
I could get a picture, if you need. <Pictures usually help,
but your own 3D observations will likely be much more precise
with regard to diagnosis, if possible at all from just looking at
this lump.> Let me know. Thank you, Leah. <Hope that helps
so far. If you can get a good picture you may want to send it,
maybe there is some visible detail overseen. Cheers,
Marco.>
Porcupine puffer with damaged spine and lump II --
08/02/07 Marco, <Leah.> Thanks so much for the quick
reply. <Most welcome.> I am almost certain he is a Diodon
holocanthus, (markings, long spines on head, etc) so that's
good. <I agree seeing the pictures.> I realize the 100
gallon might end up too small, but this is too good of a deal to
pass up for now on my college student budget. Maybe I'll be a
successful architect by the time they reach their full-grown size
and can afford a larger tank, haha. <Good luck. I've
always hoped for similar things to happen, too.> Anyway,
I'm not sure if it's because I've been sleeping and
am disoriented or not, but the bump looks a tad smaller. <That
would be good news.> I'm sending some pictures I snapped
this morning to see if that adds anything into the equation, but
they're hard to read since he's such a tiny little thing
right now. I circled the areas in red where the bump is and have
an arrow pointing to the long dark spine/scale. <Quite well
visible. I think this is an issue with this single spine and the
tissue it is anchored in. Hopefully not infected and will heal by
itself. My guess is it was caught with a net and the spine and
tissue was damaged.> I checked out the earlier posts but it
doesn't sound quite the same. I did a large water change
before they were put in the tank, and all conditions are perfect,
so hopefully he just heals. <As already noted keep the water
quality high (low nitrates, 0 ammonia and nitrites), provide a
varied diet (enriched with vitamins) and monitor the bump.
Don't stress the fish too much.> My LFS said he might be
losing the scale <spine. Puffers don't have scales.>
and have a little infection along with it <possible> and to
wait it out. Not sure if he knew what he was talking about,
though. I added some Stress Coat to the water from his advice
just in case. I'll write again if his health declines.
<OK.> But so far he's doing just fine. Thank you again
for the speedy reply! Leah <No problem and good luck.
Marco.>
|
|
Puffer vs. Power head... and the winner is... sys.,
dis. 5/31/07 HI crew, <Jesse> Last night I added
two new power heads to my 220g tank that were rated for 400g/h. This
morning I woke to find my Porcupine Puffer stuck in the intake of one
of the power heads. <Not an uncommon occurrence> I am sick about
it and quickly removed him while turning off the other power heads. He
suffered a giant hickie around his front fin, but has been swimming
around rather well. The color also began to return to the area within
an hour of the event. My big worry is that he is not really using his
gill on the affected side of his body. It is pretty swollen will he be
able to heal from the wound? <Hopefully> Is there anything I can
do for him other than maintain healthy water conditions and a good
diet? <This is about "it"> My wife and I are both very
upset. He is our favorite fish in the tank. I assume the color
returning is a good sign, but please let us know if there is anything
else, we can do to help him heal. Thank you, Jesse <Intake skimmer/s
on all powerhead/s... Supplied or retrofitted. Bob Fenner>
Sick porcupine puffer 5/13/07 Hello, <Hi
there> I have been an avid reader of your website for over a year,
am constantly reading up on your answers to people with situations
similar to my own (as well as non-similar - in case something
unexpected comes up), and recommend your site to
others. This is however my first time writing to you, and
I'm sorry but it is a kind of long story. <No worries. Take your
time> I currently have a sick porcupine puffer, he was
about 6 inches, end to end when I first got him about a year and a half
ago, but now he is approximately 9 inches. He has been sick
for about 2-3 months now. The illness first manifested
itself as a swollen nose, which we did not think too much of, assuming
he had bumped his nose on something. <Likely so>
However the swollen nose turned into 3-4 well defined and
separated bumps and he stopped eating or being very
active. At that point we removed him from his tank (75G with
a 20G sump-he is the only fish, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrates hover
around 40 <Too high...> which we try to bring down to less than
10 with frequent water changes-water comes from an RO unit) and put him
in a 75 gallon bare bottom quarantine tank. He continued to
get worse and soon we noticed he was breathing hard. With a
flashlight we saw white spots on his gills, about the size of sand
grains, and so we assumed he had Ich as well as a bacterial infection
in his nose. <Mmmm... much more likely these spots were something
else... even just resultant from the nitrate poisoning...>
We began treating him with Cupramine in the quarantine
tank, carefully monitoring the copper levels twice a
day. Since he still wasn't eating we twice had to
anesthetize him using clove oil and force feed him (his diet typically
consists of thawed shrimp, mussels, squid and whatever else we buy at
the seafood dept at the grocery store, soaked in
VitaChem). During one of the times he was anesthetized we
aspirated some pus like liquid from his nose using a sterile needle (we
are microbiologists) to look at under the microscope. <Neat> A
local vet we found not long after biopsied one of the bumps and sent it
for analysis, concerned Tiki (the puffer) might have fish
TB. <Mycobacterial problems in ornamental aquatics...
are quite common... But there is always the issue of cause/effect to
consider...> While we were waiting for the results we began treating
with Isoniazid, Kanamycin, and vitamin B6 and Tiki actually began to
get better. His breathing has completely slowed down, the
white spots on his gills have disappeared, and he has been eating on
his own for about 2 weeks now; responding when we hold a glass in front
of the tank and tracking us with his eyes or coming over when we come
to look at him. The bumps on his nose have also gone
down. However, the current problem (and I'm really sorry
it's taken so long to get here) is that one of his eyes is cloudy
and has white spots on it. <Very likely this is secondary...
unilateral involvements are almost always... resultant here from a
"bump", trauma...> I really believe this is related to his
nose infection and I can tell that it bothers him since he sometimes
rubs his eye against the side or bottom of the tank. The eye
has been cloudy probably for almost two weeks now, the white spots are
new since yesterday. Also the results of the lab analysis
came back and they found gram positive coccobacilli in the material
from his nose, however the bacteria was not acid fast, aka it is not
fish TB. <Correct> From what I understand a gram
positive infection is fairly rare in saltwater fish.
<Also correct> So I am curious as to which antibiotics I should
now begin administering for both his eye and his nose. If
anyone could offer any suggestions it would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you so much. <Well... a bunch to
state, or that could be stated... IF you were to avail yourself of
antibiotic use I would definitely make this an injectable... As you
have access to a Vet, and are in the micro- field/s... I would
"skip right ahead" and locate/use
Chloramphenicol/Chloromycetin (in a succinic acid base)... See (Ed)
Noga re this if your Vet cannot relate the use here. I WOULD definitely
fix the nitrate issue (this could actually be the a priori cause of all
problems here)... See WWM re NO3 cures... AND I would like to encourage
you to delve a bit more into pathogenic fish disease and perform at
least body slime/smears, sans staining next time you believe a
disease-causing organism like Crypt is present. Bob Fenner>
Head down bum up porcupine fish
3/19/07 Hi guys and g'day from down under You
are the greatest! <G'day! and thank you. Brandon
here.> You gave me some much appreciated advice with my seahorses
last year, and now I'm in need of some help with my porcupine fish.
<Glad to hear that the Seahorses turned out ok.> I've had him
for 12 months now, I got him when he looked like a spiky little olive,
about an inch long. <They are so cute when they are little.> It
took about 8 months for him to come out of his shell and become active.
He used to only come out of his cave at feeding time, but now he's
out most of the time. <Good.> He is about 3 ½ inches
long and has been fine up until now. 2 days ago I came home to find him
in the corner with his tail facing upwards, and his face in the sand.
He has a small bulge in his rear end, and I assume he has swallowed
some air. <This sounds very likely.> He snaps at food on the
surface aggressively, like a savage little dog, and spits bubbles out
regularly during feeding. <Spitting out the bubbles is a good
sign.> I have read other messages on WWM advising on burping to
release the trapped air, and I have tried this. The problem I have is
when I hold him with his face up, he puffs up and his spikes become
very hard as they point outward. <You can try this, not something
that I would do personally. Make sure that his head does not
come out of the water. This will just compound the
problem.> I can't rub him to try to expel the air, because I
don't want to end up with a spike through my skin, and if I tap him
gently with one finger, but he just keeps puffing. He does deflate, and
then puff up again, but no bubbles come out of his mouth. I have tried
twice with no success, and I don't want to stress him anymore. Is
there anything more I can do, or is there a preferred method of trying
to release the air? <Let him try to do it on his own. Not
much else you can do here. Bob, am I missing something?>
<<Mmm, not to worry re the "spikes" poking through your
skin... they're pretty dull... I would capture this fish (two nets)
and gently squeeze it from the underside, rear, moving fingers toward
the front... to try and expel the air here. RMF>> Thanking you in
advance, and all of my sea creatures thank you as well. <You are
welcome. I hope that this helps. Check the
dailies to see what Bob has to say. Brandon.> Dario.
Re: head down bum up porcupine fish 3/23/07 <Hello
Dario.> I appreciate your advice, and you were right. <Ahh.
Good.> It took about 4 days, but my puffer sorted the problem out
himself. <Did you check the Daily FAQ section on the
site? When Bob replied, he said that you should not worry
about being poked with the spines. Just rub gently from
below the air bubble, up the stomach to the mouth.> He is all cool
again. <This is good. Glad to hear it.> He still pokes
his head out of the water during feeding time, but at least now he has
experience in getting rid of air bubbles by himself.
<Hmmm. I would still try to get the food in the water
before he has a chance to stick his head out. Safer in the
long run.> Thanks very much. <You are most
welcome. Brandon.>
Web Burrfish with ripped up face
2/22/07 Hi WWM crew! <Anthony> I have a Chilomycterus
antillarum in a 150 G tank that must have recently scrapped it out with
one of his tankmates. I woke up one morning to find that the
side of his mouth and upper lip had been torn off. Aside
from that, he seems to be ok, swimming, eating normally. The
tears don't actually touch his eyes, but they come very close to
his right eye. This morning when I woke up, he (? - is there
any way to sex these things?) <Not externally; as far as I know>
had what looked like little white squiggly lines ( inside?) his
eye. Kind of like little tiny pieces of spaghetti I
guess. Could this be caused by stress related to his
injury? Thanks, Anthony <Mmm, maybe... could even be a parasite it
"got" while in the wild, expressing itself... in all events,
I would do what you can to discover, remove the bully/cause of the
injury here, and bolster this fish's immune system with vitamin
supplementing its favorite foods. Bob Fenner>
"Ingrown" Spines on Puffer?
2/3/07 Thank you for you help. <No
problem. Pufferpunk here with you today.> I have spent a
couple of days reviewing your website and have not found my answer.
<Thanks for looking 1st!> With the purchase of our home we
"inherited" a salt water tank. We are not very knowledgeable
but have grown very attached to our fish especially our dog faced
puffer and we feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility for these
fish. <I can't blame you. They're more like a
dog, than a fish.> Your site was most helpful when he was very sick
with Ich about 1 yr ago. He is acting well, eating with none of his
previous symptoms. However, over the last few weeks I have noticed some
bumps (about 4-5) over his back and now some are protruding like small
spines or spikes. It started with some a couple and now there are more
and 2 are protruding spines! There is no redness and as I said he is
acting fine. Our fish service person has "no idea" what it
is, but we want to make sure that it is nothing serious before it is a
real problem. <Sometimes their spines stick out, like an ingrown
hair. Nothing to worry
about. ~PP> Thanks for either
reassuring me or helping me if I should worry. Thanks, Brenda I. Troche
MD
Burping Your Puffer 1/28/07 THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU. <You're very welcome Ben, Pufferpunk here.> My
wife and I purchased a porcupine puffer today.
<Wonderful, personable pet!> The LFS we bought it from is highly
reputable with the 4 saltwater clubs in my area. <Good
choice.> When the owner of the store approached the tank with a net,
I asked if it should be caught with a container instead. The
owner said not to worry and caught the puffer easily with the net and
placed it in a very large bag while still inside the
tank. The puffer was not exposed to air and didn't
flinch during the entire process. I acclimated the puffer
over 2 hours using the drip method. I then used my large net
to move it into my tank. Of course it puffed up while being
transferred this time. <Ummm... I don't get
it. You didn't want the shop to catch the fish with a
net but you did instead???> The puffer came out of the net easily
but was full of air and couldn't even get away from the water's
surface. <Which is why a puffer should never be caught
with a net & exposed to air. Can prove to be deadly.>
My wife rushed to the PC and WetWebMedia. She searched for
"puffer air" and found one of your replies regarding how to
burp a puffer. It's now been about 6 hours and the
puffer is eating Mysis, picking at my snails and small hermits and
resting near the sand bed at the bottom. I'm so grateful
for your wisdom, experience, and willingness to share them both.
<Glad you found that info.> I do have one question
though. My puffer, even when sitting near the sand bed
picking at shells, uses its front fins more than I think it
should. It's almost as though it's fighting a small
air bubble to stay near the bottom of the tank. Do porcupine
puffers have their front side fins in constant motion?
<Puffers do not swim like other fish. They need to
constantly move their fins to "hover" in the
water. It should however, be able to lay motionless, without
struggling to keep upright, when resting.> There could be a small
air bubble still inside, as the top line of the puffer from head to
tail isn't exactly straight. It has a very slight,
hunched appearance. <Here is more info on burping: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library.php?p=54
You're welcome to join in on that forum & post about your
puffer. There are many good articles in the Library there
& also in the Marine Puffer section. Enjoy your new
puppy, er... puffer! ~PP> Thanks in advance, Ben
Injured Porcupine Puffer...Too Small Tank/Questionable System -
09/13/06 Hello to you all. <<Howdy>> Your site is
excellent and very helpful, I recently bought a porcupine puffer,
I've read a lot on how to look after these fish, it's taken two
days to settle in and eat properly, he is the only fish in a new 55
Gallon tank. <<Mmm...I think you may not have done enough
reading-up on this fish as this tank is too small for the long-term
good health of this fish>> With about 25kg live rock and live
sand. Water quality is all good, as I've used my
previous marine tank water. <<...? No water
tests? Just how "new" is this tank I wonder...and
if it may have something to do with the fish's behavior/getting
"stuck"?>> This morning I woke up and found him to be
wedged in a rock in a very tight space, he was struggling so much to
free himself, so I started to take the rocks off one by one, and
finally freed him. But now the puffers underside belly has torn
it's skin, you can see its pink flesh but not bleeding and he was
puking something out his mouth. Don't know whether he
ate his skin. I've monitored the puffer for a while and
seems to be fine and happily swimming around like nothings happened,
he's not puking anymore, it took 10 minutes till he looked normal
again. <<These are quite hardy fish...will likely be fine>>
I've added some Vitazin and Stress Coat/Zyme supplements.
<<Ok>> But I don't have a clue whether he'll
survive or will it heal overtime, will it eat? <<Sure...have you
tried to feed it?>> The length of time it will take to heal, and
is there any medicine I could use, how about the juice of garlic cloves
etc? <<You could dose some iodine (per manufacturer's
instructions>> Thanks I really would appreciate your help and
advice. Adil <<The puffer should recover fine...but you really do
need to consider larger quarters. Regards, EricR>>
Re: Injured Porcupine Puffer...Too Small Tank/Questionable
System - 09/14/06 Thanks for the Info,
<<Welcome>> It's a new tank but the same RO used Water
from my previous tank which had been running for a year, so I
wasn't cycling the tank. <<Mmm, sometimes can be done...but
definitely requires close monitoring of water parameters/certainty the
quantity of available microbes are sufficient to deal...>> Anyway
came home from work, only to find the poor thing lying dead underneath
a rock. <<(sigh) Likely poisoned by this too
new/improperly acclimated/cycled system>> It's bad luck, I
was going to call it Gizmo. (So cute). <<Not "bad luck" my
friend...more likely your "bad decision" or lack of knowledge
and proper preparation of a suitable system in which to place the
puffer is what killed it>> You are right, I'm not going to
purchase another puffer unless I get bigger quarters.
<<Indeed...and properly cycled/know your water parameters this
time>> Thanks for your response, and your site is brilliant.
<<Please better use the information
available. EricR>>
Re: Injured Porcupine Puffer...Too Small Tank/Questionable System -
09/14/06 Hello again, <<Evening>> Understood from
previous response. <<Ah...good my friend>> Ok my LFS guy,
tells me I can have at least 10 fish in my 55 UK gallons, and probably
15 with a sump. <<Let's see, that's about 66g US...could
be done...would depend much on the species selected>> He said 2
Clarkii Clowns, Three Tangs (Hippo/Powder blue/Naso), 1 Pink Anthias,
<<This doesn't tell me anything>> 1 Fox Face, and few
small fish like gobies. <<Grossly over stocked...and
"none" of these tangs are suitable for this size tank, even
on their own>> Personally I think this maybe too much.
<<Way too much>> LFS says it should be ok, as long you put
all three tangs together and to put other fish in first before you
introduce the tangs. <<The LFS is not taking the size of the
environment in to account here (or the "delicate" nature of
the Powder Blue Tang)...please do not do this>> I know you're
going to lecture me that the tangs aren't even near suited for a 55 UK
gallon tank so I ask what would you suggest? <<I'm heartened
by the fact that you realize this on your own (consider yourself
lectured <grin>). The clowns, Anthias (I recommend a
lyretail, Pseudanthias squamipinnis), and the Foxface would all be fine
additions (once your certain this tank is fully cycled, that
is). And a couple smaller fishes in the way of cardinals or
gobies would be ok as well I think (Sphaeramia nematoptera and/or
Elacatinus oceanops)>> Thanks for your info. <<Regards,
EricR>>
Inflated Porcupine
puffer 7/25/06 I read the article and my puffer
doesn't have any air trapped. He is on the bottom of the
tank partially inflated with water. He doesn't have air
trapped in him, because I burped him several times, if he does its
very, very minimal. The problem is, he seems he can't
expel the remaining water. He can inflate fully and can
expel the water down to about half his size, but no further. Any other
ideas? <<Puffers are built to inflate, and expel water with water
with ease. Does a little bit of air come out when you burp
him?>> <Mmm, just give it time... RMF> Thanks John
Eye Ulcer/Cloudy - Porc Puffer - 06/07/06 I have a
small Porc puffer which I purchased about 2 weeks ago. She
is in a QT tank.....and I have been treating her for her eye with
lowering the salinity and making sure the water quality is
tops. The eye seems to be even more cloudy and even looks
somewhat like an ulcer. I don't know if the eye is
getting better as in the issue is shrinking or worse! I have also used
Epsom salts as well. <Good> But if I am taking water out for
changes, how often do I need to replenish the Epsom salts. <Each
time> She is eating well ... mind you today was a bit
picky. When I got home from work she was on the bottom in a
rock hole and I thought she'd died! <Mmm, do sit about a good
deal of the time... in the wild and in captivity> I picked her out
of the store because she was the "underdog" and I seem to
always take the fish I feel I could help give a better life
to. This includes all my pets... Should I dip her in fresh
water. <Maybe enroute to your main tank> I could send a pic if
necessary. Please help I really don't want to lose her
and I don't want her to suffer. Janet <I would likely
foreshorten the quarantine period here and risk moving this animal into
larger quarters... Much more likely that a good deal of the
stress/component of this manifestation is due to being kept in small
confines than it carrying a pathogen. Bob Fenner>
-The one eyed
Porc- 6/1/06 <Hello Janet> I have had a juvenile
porcupine puffer for about a week. She is in a quarantine
tank with no other fish and has been since bringing her
home. I had noticed one eye is cloudy and has steadily
gotten worse over the past week. <Are you keeping up with water
changes and maintaining a clean tank?> She looks
blind! Will this clear up? She seemingly had
white spots as well, but they have cleared up and are looking
better. She is eating very well.... so far. <Good sign on
the food, continue to feed nutritious foods and keep that water quality
up.> The quarantine tank is small, so I am cleaning out
any uneaten food every time I feed. I decided to use copper,
but was advised by LFS that puffers don't take well to copper.
<Yes puffers and copper are never a good mix.> Stopped this and
haven't really done anything except brought down the
salinity...slowly and am still doing so. From 1.025 to 1.18
or lower? Should I treat her with anything
else? Or simply leave her in the quarantine tank until she
is completely healthy. Janet <Continue to lower the salinity down to
1.012 and keep there for several weeks, continue water changes as
above, and add Epsom salt at 1tsp per gallon of water for the
eye. Most of the time a cloudy eye signifies dirty water
issues, and porcs are able to ruin a fish tank fairly quickly, a very
high bioload animal. On the flip side, puffers in clean
water are very hardy, and generally bounce back from most illnesses /
conditions. I would NOT move the puffer from Q/T until it is
fully healed.> <Justin (Jager)>
Diodon nicthemerus with an air bubble - 5/8/2006 Hi guys, good
morning from the U.K. <<Good morning from Canada!>> After
doing some searching, I still seem to have a couple of things that need
my attention A.S.A.P. On Saturday I purchased a young puffer, about
4" long from a local LFS. Before I could stop the
genius bagging the fish for me, he lifted it out of the water in the
net, 5 seconds to get the top of the bag open, and then dropped it in.
It was obviously stressed and puffed up; on going into the bag it
expelled a large amount of air. <<That's no good.>>
After introducing the poor creature to my tank, I noticed an air
bubble, about 1/4" diameter, at the joint of his body and tail
fin. I posted in the forum to try and find out whether there was
anything I could do, or whether just to watch and wait, but received no
replies. Don't shoot me, but my first thought was to puncture the
bubble to release the air if it was causing distress. <<Bad
idea! Please read here on expelling the air bubble: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/airpuff.html.
>> When introduced, the fish was almost looking as if it was
bleached it was so pale, but has since regained some color. At this
time, it is staying in the corner during lighting times, and cruising
after lights out, I have tried to feed with shrimp etc, but he seems to
have no interest. Flake seemed to inspire him a little, but I realize
this is not going to do anything to improve him, I'm guessing that
that was all he was fed in the store. <<Likely. Read
here on feeding: http://www.thepufferforum.com/articles/puffer/food.html.>>
Your thoughts would be hugely appreciated, the feeding is not bothering
me to much at the moment, he is just settling in, so that I will just
keep an eye on, my main worry is the air bubble. <<Read linked
articles. If this is indeed a Diodon nicthemerus you have,
be aware that they grow to 24 inches in length, and will require a
system in the hundreds of gallons.>> Thank you all in advance,
Mike <<Glad to help. Lisa.>>
Porc V. Powerhead - 05/05/2006 Hi <Hello> Last night we
brought a porcupine puffer, he settled in well; just as we were about
to go to bed he swan near a power head and got stuck. <Ouch>
There now is a see through bubble coming out underneath him he is
laying on the bottom of the tank now and is not moving. Is
he going to be ok? If his he dying, don't want to lose him. Yours
sincerely, miss Kate Lamb <Well, I don't understand the end of
your email, but i do believe that your puffer has a big bruise from
being sucked into the powerhead. Feed him well, and keep the
tank clean. All you can do at this point for him is keep his
life stress free. If the area wont heal in a week use an
antibiotic like Nitrofurazone and Furazolidone to help.> <Justin
(Jager)>
Re: Hungry
Puffer 8/17/05 OK. I took the puffer back to the
store. When the clerk introduced the fish into their tank he
tried to catch it in a bag and I noticed it puffed with some
air. Once inside their tank he had to a nickel size bubble
near his tail. The puffer (about 5 in. in length) was upright but was
swimming slightly off center and seemed to be being pulled to the top
of the tank. Please tell me he will be able to expel this
amount of air. The last thing I want is to return my favorite fish just
to have him die. What are his chances? Chris <Good...
that the fish will likely expel the air or resorb it. Bob Fenner>
Porcupine puffer injured? sick? <Anthony Calfo here in
your service> Today I noticed a small roundish area on the side of
my porcupine puffer's body that appears to be injured. It happened
sometime today while I was gone, as he was just fine this morning. It
is covered with what seems to be white dead skin that is peeling off.
I'm thinking maybe he got a little too close to the heater and
burned himself or maybe scraped on the live rock. <as unusual as
that might be, I'm likely to agree. A pathogenic symptom would not
manifest that quickly...definitely mechanical injury in nature> His
skin is a little puffed out around the area but doesn't seem to be
infected, and he is acting fairly normal. The only tankmates are a
sergeant major damsel (about 1.5 inches) and a blue damsel (about 2
inches). The puffer is about 5.5 inches. The tank is 80 gallons with a
skimmer and Fluval canister and about 45 pounds of live rock. Any ideas
of what to do besides keep an eye on him? <agreed...mostly just keep
an eye on him, maintain good water quality and feed well (but do not
overfeed). Look for stabilization or improvement in three days...else
be prepared with a quarantine tank and antibiotics. A normal reef dose
of iodine in the tank may be mildly antiseptic and will at least raise
RedOx. Please follow up promptly if you need more help, but I suspect
it will be fine. Kindly, Anthony>
Burping a Porcupine puffer I bought a porcupine puffer
approximately a week and a half ago. He is a baby, only a little over
an inch long. <scary small indeed> I have a bubble wand in
my tank and am concerned he has gotten air in him. <never
bubbles with puffers...they are curious and ingest them> At first,
he loved the vitamin infused brine shrimp, but now the only thing he
will consistently eat is frozen plankton. < a much better food
than brine even enriched> Yesterday, he was partially inflated and
afterwards, his eyes became opaque and remain so. <cloudy eyes
have nothing to do with air bubbles or feeding... look for other signs
of disease> He swims around and just checks things out. At times he
will attempt to come to a rest on the substrate and he will just begin
floating towards the surface. To sleep he gets under an overhang of
live rock and floats up on it. He seems to have no abrasions and the
other fish in the tank (a clown/fairy wrasse and a striated wrasse)
don't bother him though they kind of crowd his space sometimes. I
really like the little guy and want to ensure he is as healthy as
possible. I greatly appreciate your quick response, as I am very
concerned. <it may literally need burped if it looks like air is
trapped. Use a soft nylon net to capture it and massage the creature
through the net with its mouth pointed upward to see if bubbles can be
burped out. Kind regards, Anthony>
Puffer crisis!! Need help ASAP Hi team..
<<Hello... fish team delta at your service.>> I've
got a sick porcupine puffer on my hands and I'm not sure what
to do. I've had him for 3 years and have rarely had any
problems with diseases or eating problems (unless you count him
wanting to eat too much haha). Tonight I noticed that he has a
horrible white film covering his left eye. I'm almost positive
that its a fungus because its circular and in the center there is a
very small amount of tissue extending from they eye. (I don't
really know how to describe it other than it looks like rotting
flesh that is still attached to the eye.) But it's all white
and I don't think that it is part of the eye itself that is
hanging off. I tested the water quality ammonia is 0 nitrite 0 and
nitrate 0, ph is at 8.2 (like I said, this is an established tank,
its always that way.) The past week or so he was eating very
little, he actually stopped eating the same day I brought home a
new yellow tang. I assumed this was stress caused by a new tank
mate, or even just a coincidence because he occasionally (like
maybe twice a year or so) stops eating for a day or two and then
starts right back up again. Well after a couple days went by of him
eating only a small piece of shrimp (his favorite food), I thought
perhaps the tang had brought some Ich with him (I noticed the tang
scratching a little bit, although I didn't see any white
spots). So I gave the puffer a freshwater bath and lowered the
salinity in the tank a couple of points (from 1.022 to 1.020). The
next day (2 days ago) he was back to his regular eating habits and
all was well. Then tonight I noticed the white thing on his eye.
The tang seems happy and well adjusted (he's done a great job
with the algae in the tank). I've attached a pic of the
puffer.. its not that great so I don't know how helpful it will
be since he wouldn't stop moving for the camera. But it may
give you some idea. I also shot a brief digital movie of him you
can look at, just go to http://www.nearvanna.com/puffer.zip and you
can download it. (it's probably not worth it unless you have
high speed or need to see a better image of the disease.) <<A
quick view of the image and movie makes me think it is more likely
an injury than bacteria or fungus. Bacteria and fungus are rarely
so selective as to infect one eye... an injury like a scratch seems
more probable.>> A little bit on the puffer's
surroundings. Its a 50 gallon tank, I have a fluidized bed filter,
a wet/dry filter, a good protein skimmer and 2 powerheads for
circulation. Along with the puffer I have a large snowflake eel and
the new tang. Everyone seems healthy except for the puffer.
<<Two things come to mind about this system: one, it's
really a little small for the eel and puffer... which now has a
tang in it. Do consider a potential tank upgrade if keeping the
puffer long term is among your goals. Second, the fluidized bed
while well-suited to the job of filtering for messy eaters is still
a sketchy piece of equipment - a power failure could do more than
leave you in the dark. You might want to consider some other
options or perhaps doing without it given the wet/dry and
skimmer.>> Ok, so on to the question. WHAT CAN I DO????
<<I'd leave it be, and give it some time.>>
I've known my puffer long than I've known my girlfriend,
and don't want to lose him! According to the article I read on
your website about fungus, it is rare and usually mistaken for
bacteria. Do you think that is the case here? <<no...>>
It also says that most treatments don't work, so other than
frequent water changes am I just doomed to see if he can overcome
this himself? <<all other things being equal, the chances of
healing are quite good I would think.>> Anything I can do to
tip the odds in the puffer's favor? <<Make sure it's
eating, and if you can, whole shrimp or krill keep the teeth
trimmed and the puffer happy.>> Your quick response is very
much appreciated. Thank you! <<Sorry, probably wasn't as
quick as you might have liked, but hopefully all will be well given
some time.>> Steve Weatherly
<<Cheers, J -- >> |
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Porcupine Puffer - Help Dear Mr. Fenner, I'm
new to saltwater marine keeping and I purchased your book, "The
Conscientious Marine Aquarist". It is a very informative book! I
like it very much! :-) I know in your book to specify not to lift
puffers out of the water but to scoot them into a small container. I
needed to move my puffer quickly without access to such a container. I
thought if I netted it and let it inflate with water first there would
be a problem with it swallowing any air. Unfortunately it did
swallow some air and now it has trouble getting rid of the air. You
mentioned that it was stressful on the fish to swallow air but you
never mentioned whether it was fatal or not or what to do about
it. What can I do to save my Puffy? Please help! Thanks,
Alec <<Arggghhhh, no container? What? Not even a jar you could
give a quick wash and rinsing? If you and your puffer are fortunate it
can/will discharge the air on its own... if not, you may be still lucky
to be able to catch it (underwater) and tilting the fish up (be careful
to not be bitten) gently squeeze the air from its stomach...Bob
Fenner>>
Eye Growth I have a small Porcupine fish (about 4 1/2")
that has been doing well for 4 months. Now he looks like he has
something around one eye. It looks like a growth, but it's not
puffy. It's a major change in coloration, but it's localized
around one eye. I never noticed this before. Please help! <From
reading your missal here, I suspect this damage is due to a physical
trauma... maybe the Puffer bumping into something in the night... and
would not add to the animal's stress by handling, treating it per
se... just keep it fed, happy in place and it should heal> I have a
90 gallon tank that has been set up for about 4 months. I let it cycle
with damsels for about two months everything was great( although I had
15 damsels when I started and ended with 4). I have since added 2
yellow tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens), a clown fish ( Amphiprion
ocellaris), and a Long-Spined Porcupine Puffer (Diodon holacanthus). I
understand that the puffer is not good with invert's. I would like
to start adding live rock and corals is this a good idea, if so how
much rock should I add and how fast should it be added. <<Adding
the live rock is a great idea on several counts... You won't regret
it... better livestock health, easier maintenance, never ending
fascination with what comes out of it. The Puffer will likely chew on
bits of the live rock... and in all likelihood your corals, other
invertebrates. Do start with a few hardy soft corals if you want to try
your Puffer with the non-vertebrates. Maybe a leather, toadstool... Bob
Fenner>>
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