Sick Figure Of Eight Puffer Fish ( Help Please.!)

[hoatson]

HI there

I am new to this site but can see that many good helping experienced people are out there to share advice (which I think is great !)

I have an established 96 litre aquarium containing 6 figure of 8 puffer fish only. They were all bought at the same time and from the same place and I have had them for about 7 weeks.

I have about 0.6% salinity, zero ammonia, and marginal nitrites of 0.1mgs/ litre

Water temp is about 26 degrees

I have fed these puffers on a varied supply of cockles, mussels, shrimp, prawn and do this usually only once a day

The sick one has developed a white colour to the rear portion of it's body but still swims and feeds. The other puffers are all fine. This fish does seem to be partially parylized because it's easier to net , and it swims not as efficiently as the others. This darker white colour is not even patchy but full from it's belly region to it's tail. This includes the top of it's back and sides I do not believe the ailment is white spot but may be a fungus. I have a picture to send those who are interested to help.

Any ideas please and what to do ?

Thanks

David

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi David

Without a picture it is tough to say for sure, but sounds like a possible bacterial infection to me. Even though they are still quite young and small, puffers produce a disproportional bioload for their size, and 6 Figure 8 puffers in a 96 litre tank is way overloaded, unless you get a bigger tank you will likely have to get rid of 5 of them, or be prepared for constant illness among the puffers.

 

[nmonks]

Hello David --

It would be a good idea to post a picture or two.

My initial guess is that the fish has been damaged, perhaps in a fight with the other puffers. Puffers generally tend not to be sociable, and even in large tanks can be short-tempered with one another.

I've usually found pufferfish to be more 'nippy' when hungry, and I'd be tempted to feed them more than once per day. I certainly feed my South American puffer at least two or three times a day, and that's kept it sufficiently docile to get along with tetras, gobies, and various other community fish. But, I hasten to add that I've never kept figure-8 puffers, so cannot speak with authority on this issue.

The good news is that fish heal remarkably well, assuming that no infection sets in. So long as the puffer feeds properly, you should see it recover soon enough. Brackish water tends to inhibit fungus and fin rot, which is lucky because some puffers are sensitive to copper medications widely used to treat those problems. (Again, not in my experience, but then the South American puffer may be unusual in this regard.)

Cheers,

Neale

 

[phlawed]

how many puffers in that tank? eek all i can say is wait to a day you wake up to one live puffer (or a pair of puffers) and the rest floating upside down. Puffers are very aggressive and very territorial even agianst their own species. I would keep a close eye on that tank as they mature. The more mature they get the worse it will all become. But good luck to ya and keep us all informed as to what happens or what you see in their behavior. Im kinda curious myself.

 

[hoatson]

Hi David

Without a picture it is tough to say for sure, but sounds like a possible bacterial infection to me. Even though they are still quite young and small, puffers produce a disproportional bioload for their size, and 6 Figure 8 puffers in a 96 litre tank is way overloaded, unless you get a bigger tank you will likely have to get rid of 5 of them, or be prepared for constant illness among the puffers.

Hi there

Thanks for all of your advice. I was not aware that 6 would be too may for this tank size. The one I mentioned did die and I will now sell a few of them as to free up the space

Thanks again

David