New Valentini Puffer has ich?

[Mike N]

I purchased a valentini from petco today to add some personality to a fishless 30g. When I started the acclimation, I noticed white dots on a couple of his fins. He seems happy enough, but I have noticed him flashing a couple times.
Hes the sole fish in a tank with live rock and an emerald, scarlet reef hermit, and a couple astrea.
Is it ich? What should I do?

 

[melypr1985]

It could be, but a picture would help confirm that.

 

[Mike N]

Ive been trying, but he's so small the dots dont show up on the camera.

 

[melypr1985]

Well I always advise QT even if there will only be one fish in the tank. I would suggest running him through TTM at a minimum.

 

[Mike N]

While I don't mind doing that (and it gives me a reason to setup another tank ) I wonder if I should just return him? Is there a quicker method?
Edit: Little guy is eating like crazy, already killed a nassarius I forgot was in there

 

[Mike N]

Ok got a picture that shows it finally:

 

[leahfiish]

Normally I recommend qt to prophylactically treat ich (with ttm, copper, cp, whichever method is appropriate for you) so you can have an ich free system. But if this is the only fish you want in that tank and he's already in the dt, I would probably just try to manage the ich, keep his environment stress free, and he can probably fight it off on his own. Those guys are pretty tough. Make sure you feed him high quality food. NLS also makes an ich shield food you can use in case you have another outbreak. It won't cure it forever but in my experience it helps them fight it off and it's safe to use in your display as long as you make sure anemones and inverts don't eat it.

 

[Mike N]

Thanks for the advice. Can you elaborate on stress-free environment? What is the ideal environment for a saddle puffer? (besides good water parameters of course)

 

[Humblefish]

What I see on the fin in the photo looks more like Lympho: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lymphocystis.257461/

 

[Mike N]

What I see on the fin in the photo looks more like Lympho: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lymphocystis.257461/

Thanks. After reading about Lympho, I hope thats what he has. I guess I will give it some time.

 

[leahfiish]

Thanks for the advice. Can you elaborate on stress-free environment? What is the ideal environment for a saddle puffer? (besides good water parameters of course)

I mean things like keeping salinity and temperature as stable as possible, making sure anything new that you add doesn't pick on him, etc. Feeding a high quality, varied diet helps as well.

 

[Mike N]

This afternoon he has only one spot on his dorsal fin. Good sign?

 

[Humblefish]

This afternoon he has only one spot on his dorsal fin. Good sign?

Yes; it means his stress level is going down as he adapts to his new home. Less stress = healthier immune system to fight off the virus.

 

[Mike N]

Yes; it means his stress level is going down as he adapts to his new home. Less stress = healthier immune system to fight off the virus.

Nice, thanks.

 

[Mike N]

Today after getting home from work and feeding, I noticed ZERO white spots on his dorsal and anal fins. Only one spot remaining on his tail fin.