Need to make sure Im not paranoid about white dots

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

So my porcupine puffer has been in the tank a few days now. Noticed white ish dots on his fins. Want to make sure he isnt sick as I know they are prone to ich. Little dude is eating like a piggy and very active still.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
So my porcupine puffer has been in the tank a few days now. Noticed white ish dots on his fins. Want to make sure he isnt sick as I know they are prone to ich. Little dude is eating like a piggy and very active still.

Either fin ray issue or lymphocystis which is viral
Keep an eye on it to assure no increase in dots over the next day to two
Assure also good water quality

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Either fin ray issue or lymphocystis which is viral
Keep an eye on it to assure no increase in dots over the next day to two
Assure also good water quality

Olay he is in my DT. Should I move him at this stage to a hospital tank or just observe instead of adding stress to him by moving?

vetteguy53081 · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Olay he is in my DT. Should I move him at this stage to a hospital tank or just observe instead of adding stress to him by moving?

Observe

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Observe

Great thank you! Dont want to lose the little guy, he is so cute!

Uncle99 · Jul 4, 2023

I see what might be ick spots on the tail fin.
Sometimes, it comes and goes, sometimes it returns in more numbers.
Since he’s acting fine and eating, leave him, but be ready to pull him if those spots fall off, in the next few days, then reappear days later, if so, pull him.

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

Uncle99 said:
I see what might be ick spots on the tail fin.
Sometimes, it comes and goes, sometimes it returns in more numbers.
Since he’s acting fine and eating, leave him, but be ready to pull him if those spots fall off, in the next few days, then reappear days later, if so, pull him.

Will do!

Jay Hemdal · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
So my porcupine puffer has been in the tank a few days now. Noticed white ish dots on his fins. Want to make sure he isnt sick as I know they are prone to ich. Little dude is eating like a piggy and very active still.

I can't rule out marine ich here, especially in the one photo showing its anal fin.

What is the history of the fish? Did you just buy it from a LFS? Was it treated before you go it?

Jay

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
I can't rule out marine ich here, especially in the one photo showing its anal fin.

What is the history of the fish? Did you just buy it from a LFS? Was it treated before you go it?

Jay

Bought from LFS, he had been with them 4 weeks. No signs of ich in the store that I saw. He has been with me since Saturday. As far as treatment goes they run copper I believe in select tanks, not sure if this guy was in one with copper or not. He was with a harlequinn tuskfish in the same tank, not sure how long the tusk was there with him. I just noticed the spots yesterday

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Bought from LFS, he had been with them 4 weeks. No signs of ich in the store that I saw. He has been with me since Saturday. As far as treatment goes they run copper I believe in select tanks, not sure if this guy was in one with copper or not. He was with a harlequinn tuskfish in the same tank, not sure how long the tusk was there with him. I just noticed the spots yesterday

I can start metroplex and focus to be safe, Ive used that on my blue when Ive seen spots on him

Jay Hemdal · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
I can start metroplex and focus to be safe, Ive used that on my blue when Ive seen spots on him

Metroplex and Focus doesn't work for true ich. Ich is an external parasite and orally dosing medications don't work well on those. Also, you need to calculate the dosage fairly precisely - it needs to be between 0.5% and 1% in the food, by weight.

Jay

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
Metroplex and Focus doesn't work for true ich. Ich is an external parasite and orally dosing medications don't work well on those. Also, you need to calculate the dosage fairly precisely - it needs to be between 0.5% and 1% in the food, by weight.

Jay

Okay, metroplex doesnt have anything that would hurt him right as they are sensitive to copper? I dont want to add stress to him by moving him and causing him to puff. What would you recommend?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Okay, metroplex doesnt have anything that would hurt him right as they are sensitive to copper? I dont want to add stress to him by moving him and causing him to puff. What would you recommend?

This species is not sensitive to coppersafe or copper power. They are only sensitive to ionic copper like cupramine or copper sulfate/citric acid).

I would use coppersafe or hyposalinity on it......

Jay

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
This species is not sensitive to coppersafe or copper power. They are only sensitive to ionic copper like cupramine or copper sulfate/citric acid).

I would use coppersafe or hyposalinity on it......

Jay

Okay, what products do you recommend?

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Okay, what products do you recommend?

And you would move him to a QT tank?

Jay Hemdal · Jul 5, 2023

littlefoxx said:
And you would move him to a QT tank?

If it is a tank with invertebrates, then yes, it needs to be moved before you can treat it (or move the inverts out). If the tank it is in has coral rocks in it (as yours does) you really can't use copper. All fish exposed would also need to be treated.

I think we need to circle back to where I said, "I can't rule out marine ich" - that isn't the same as a confirmed diagnosis. I'd hate for you to go through a whole treatment only to find out it wasn't ich after all!

So - how can we better confirm the diagnosis? First, how does it look today? Same, worse, better? Can you post a video of the fish?

Jay

littlefoxx · Jul 5, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
If it is a tank with invertebrates, then yes, it needs to be moved before you can treat it (or move the inverts out). If the tank it is in has coral rocks in it (as yours does) you really can't use copper. All fish exposed would also need to be treated.

I think we need to circle back to where I said, "I can't rule out marine ich" - that isn't the same as a confirmed diagnosis. I'd hate for you to go through a whole treatment only to find out it wasn't ich after all!

So - how can we better confirm the diagnosis? First, how does it look today? Same, worse, better? Can you post a video of the fish?

Jay

Here is a video