Dogface puffer help.

Wildchildm15 · Mar 23, 2016

Hello all, first time posting. Just got home from a cruise to the Caribbean and came back to a sick puffer. Not sure what's going on with him. Heavy breathing and won't hardly eat anything. Also noticed he doesn't seem to be able to use fin on top and bottom near tail, along with tail. Also has white cloudy eyes. He is also losing skin on his tail. I did lose one fish while I was gone and the person I had watching the tank and house didn't notice it behind the live rock. I'm thinking the problem may have been ammonia related but not sure. Checked all levels and everything seems to be okay as far as the water. Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is the best picture I could find.

hybridazn · Mar 23, 2016

Yikes, boy that's not good. What are his tankmates?

@Humblefish

lariat8099 · Mar 23, 2016

This sure looks like and ammonia burn from an ammonia spike since your puffer has no scales it's burned his skin. This could be from the loss of the one fish that was dead for too long causing the huge spike I would immediately do a partial water change

Baby Ray · Mar 23, 2016

What was the other fish that you lost?

Humblefish · Mar 23, 2016

I think this fish is going to need more than a water change. First, I would do either a Methylene Blue or Malachite Green bath (more info below). Followed by antibiotic treatment (Furan-2 and/or Kanaplex) in a QT.

Also, any nems/inverts in your tank which could have done the damage near the base of the tail?

Malachite Green/Methylene Blue: Treats ammonia burn, cuts, injuries.

How To Treat - Comes in both liquid and powder form, sometimes mixed in with another medication(s). So, follow the directions on the label. Best used as a 30 minute bath solution, but you also can treat with it in a quarantine tank. Aerate heavily. If you are using it in a bath solution, then it is also a good idea to treat the fish with nitrofurazone (active ingredient found in Furan-2 and Nitrofuracin Green Powder) once he is returned to the quarantine tank. Nitrofurazone is great for treating open wounds or sores.

Pros - Highly effective.

Cons/Side Effects - Depletes oxygen from the water. Malachite Green is considered “harsher” on fish than Methylene Blue.

Wildchildm15 · Mar 23, 2016

He is in the tank with a damsel, yellow tang, and another small fish which is the same as the one that died. Can't think of name of fish, going to upload a picture of the one that's left when I get back home.

Wildchildm15 · Mar 23, 2016

Best picture I could get at moment. Had wife take one and send to me.

Baby Ray · Mar 23, 2016

That is a pajama Cardinal fish

Wildchildm15 · Mar 23, 2016

Baby Ray said:
That is a pajama Cardinal fish

Yes, that's it. Had a brain fart.
Where do I find methylene blue, have never had to give a fish a bath before....

Humblefish · Mar 23, 2016

Wildchildm15 said:
Yes, that's it. Had a brain fart.
Where do I find methylene blue, have never had to give a fish a bath before....

Links to the two most common brands can be found below. Petco/smart sometimes carries them. Not sure how readily available the Fritz brand is at Walmart though.

http://www.amazon.com/Methylene-Blue-General-Prevention-Treatment-Aquarium/dp/B00025646W

http://www.walmart.com/ip/48185155?...08226138&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=89878844258&veh=sem

Wildchildm15 · Mar 24, 2016

Did a couple small water changes, haven't been able to get my hands on any of the products to give him a bath yet. However he seems to be swimming around a little more but still won't eat. I put a piece of krill in tongs and put it in front of his mouth and he grabs it but then spits it out. I know if he doesn't eat, it's only a matter of time and he won't be anymore....

Triggreef · Mar 24, 2016

Fish can go 30 days without eating without a problem, thats a secondary problem... The infection you have there will kill him fast though. Better get on it if you want to save him. Most LFS around here carry meth blue or malchite green but I realize not everyone has a LFS near them.