ICH on puffer?

[Baffels]

Hey all. Puffer is coming down with something. Is this ich?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey all. Puffer is coming down with something. Is this ich?

Sure looks like it. While you can try a 5 min freshwater dip to start with (as long as not breathing heavy) for relief, these fish are tricky with treatment but you will want to set up a quarantine tank and add an air stone for added oxygen. I recommend Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.0-2.25 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and again add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Baffels]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I have two tanks plumbed together with around 20 fish between the two including large eels. Whats the best way to go about this?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I have two tanks plumbed together with around 20 fish between the two including large eels. Whats the best way to go about this?

If it is ich, then you may have an issue - as all of the fish in that system have been exposed and will need treatment. There isn't any treatment that you can do if there are invertebrates present. Sometimes, eels go off their feed with copper treatments. You might consider hyposalinity.

Finally, although the picture looks like the puffer might have ich (and they do commonly get that disease), a clearer picture would help with the diagnosis.

Jay