Porcupine Puffer

[Intense37754]

We’re trying to figure out if we’re just paranoid or in an early stage of something and wanna take care of it before it becomes a problem.

He is eating and temps have stayed at 78-79.

sometimes he seems to be having labored breathing or just might be normal when he lays on a rock or substrate.

I’m reading through forum now on different conditions.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

In my experience with Oscar's and fresh water puffers, they are very intelligent fish and have personality. When they are bored or live in a new environment they get bored or grumpy and just mope around on the substrate or in a corner. He should turn around just fine if he is eating

 

[Intense37754]

Definitely have personality and think that’s why we get attached to them like a puppy dog.
We were concerned about the white specs on his eyes and fins

 

[ReefHog]

It’s common for Porcupines to show signs of ick/velvet after eating and acting fine for days or even weeks. Not sure if that’s what the specks are @Humblefish Is he a new fish? Was he quarantined? If his eyes start clouding up you’ll want to act fast with meds.

 

[Hermie]

How is the water quality? Is the tank new, is the nitrification up to speed etc?

 

[Humblefish]

That's Ich and/or Velvet.

 

[Intense37754]

We had him now for a month, he was originally by himself and was only going to be him but then we made a bad decision and introduced 2 clowns and 2 damsels the bad decision was not to wait for longer period of time and now the clowns have a spec or 2 and all are eating very well.

After reading many post including the 200+ page (did not read them all yet) trying to decide to disrupt the entire tank that contains a few emerald crabs and hermits with no real coral other than a ZOA polyup that was a hitchhiker or to treat everyone in that tank and with what meds.
We currently have metroplex, would we need focus and garlic???

Don’t have all the exact numbers of water test last week but know that

SG was 1.026
Phosphates were .5
Nitrite was 0
Nitrate was 30

25% water change brought nitrates down to 20. Weekly 20% water change are done due to the fact that the porky has no manners and has poor hygiene lol

 

[Hermie]

We had him now for a month, he was originally by himself and was only going to be him but then we made a bad decision and introduced 2 clowns and 2 damsels the bad decision was not to wait for longer period of time and now the clowns have a spec or 2 and all are eating very well.

After reading many post including the 200+ page (did not read them all yet) trying to decide to disrupt the entire tank that contains a few emerald crabs and hermits with no real coral other than a ZOA polyup that was a hitchhiker or to treat everyone in that tank and with what meds.
We currently have metroplex, would we need focus and garlic???

Don’t have all the exact numbers of water test last week but know that

SG was 1.026
Phosphates were .5
Nitrite was 0
Nitrate was 30

25% water change brought nitrates down to 20. Weekly 20% water change are done due to the fact that the porky has no manners and has poor hygiene lol

IMO

1. step 1, positively identify the illness.
2. isolate the individual
3. provide treatment/therapeutic environment

 

[ReefHog]

If it’s ick or velvet, the only real way to eradicate it is to treat in hospital tank with copper or chloroquine phosphate (cp). Then display tank needs to sit fallow for 45 / 76 days. If it’s ick, it can be managed with a good diet and stress free environment. Now a days velvet is very prevalent in the fish trade and should be addressed ASAP. Not what you want to hear I’m sure.