Puffer and ich

[squampton]

Alright so 21 days ago I noticed a few white specks on a dog face puffer.

I was wary of using copper so decided to try ich sheild powder.

Up until today no white spots and acting normal eating.

Noticed yesterday fish showing stress and not swimming just huddled on the bottom. Didnt see any spots.

Tonight I can see a few spots.

Since the ich sheild doesnt seem to be working, copper is my only other option I beleive as there is no way for me to get a RX for chloroquine phosphate.

I am not in the US so rather limited to what I have access to. Ordering online not an option as it will take a week or more for anything to arrive.

My local store sells the following 2 test kits for copper.

Salifert or Sea Chem.

For copper the choice is cupramine or Mardel Copper safe.

What would all reccomend?

Has anyone treated a puffer with copper before? Best way to go about doing it?


Transfer method isnt an option at the moment.

Hypo salinity maybe?

The puffer spent the 30 days prior to me getting it in hypo although I cannot say for certain if it was done correctly.

Hypo as I understand it needs to be almost perfect for it to work?

Thanks.

 

[squampton]

Wanted to add the fish currently has a pretty mild visible break out, see about 5 to 7 spots at the moment.

 

[biophilia]

Hyposalinity can be effective if you have access to a (calibrated!) refractometer to use during treatment and follow the directions to a T. I've had success treating a porcupine puffer with SG @ 1.009 for roughly 6 weeks with no visible signs of stress to the fish whatsoever.

 

[Humblefish]

So, I'm currently running a Blue Spot Puffer (with velvet) through Cupramine. I got him at Petco, and wanted to test Cupramine out on a puffer after reading they handle it better than chelated copper. I took 4-5 days to get the QT up to full therapeutic (0.5ppm), but so far so good. I'll let you know if anything changes.

 

[squampton]

Puffers are tricky to treat, not many options it seems.

I am thinking about cupramine. Does the salifert test work with it?

Looking online at the sea chem test not sure I could read the colors correctly on it. Salifert seems a bit easier but not sure if its compatible.

The hanna copper tester isnt sold anywhere I am aware of but we only have 1 saltwater specialty store.

Seemed to be doing good for the first 2 weeks and some change with ich sheild powder and became active and eating, but right around day 20 his behavior changed and spots showing up again.

He is still eaiting but doesnt swim around like he was and just sits on a pvc pipe only moving if for food.

 

[Humblefish]

I am thinking about cupramine. Does the salifert test work with it?

Yes

 

[squampton]

Yes

Sweet. Ill go with that one and go up slowly and hope for the best.

 

[Elliot Buss]

Copper kills puffers. People can get lucky and say its not true but working in the public Aquarium industry with very qualified vets, leading consensus is that it will eventually do more damage than good over the course of an effective treatment. A viable option would be chloriquine phosphate to truely eradicate the disease or hyposalinity and freshwater dips to alleviate symptoms.

 

[squampton]

Copper kills puffers. People can get lucky and say its not true but working in the public Aquarium industry with very qualified vets, leading consensus is that it will eventually do more damage than good over the course of an effective treatment. A viable option would be chloriquine phosphate to truely eradicate the disease or hyposalinity and freshwater dips to alleviate symptoms.

So no real way to treat the puffer then?

Copper is the only available option at the consumer level, its unfortunate really.

Any other options besides CP to eradicate the disease?

 

[Elliot Buss]

Any good fish store around you should have some that they use, if not you can go to a vet and explain the situation to them and they should be able to help you out. However if must use copper and are willing to risk it I would recommend the salifert copper test kit and keep the amount at .3 in the tank with no spikes. Oh and cupramine is a good ionic copper.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have treated puffers in cupramine before with success, for what that's worth. Before I knew they were "sensitive".

I'd say best practice would be a 14 day treatment and then transfer to a completely sterile tank. If you cannot do that, a full 30 days is necessary to omit parasites from the fish.

 

[squampton]

Any good fish store around you should have some that they use, if not you can go to a vet and explain the situation to them and they should be able to help you out. However if must use copper and are willing to risk it I would recommend the salifert copper test kit and keep the amount at .3 in the tank with no spikes. Oh and cupramine is a good ionic copper.

Already called the stores and CP isn't something they use, all run copper or keep sensitive fish in hypo.

Calling around asking vets now, so far no luck, but maybe one will be sympathetic. Also posted in a regional forum.

 

[4FordFamily]

Already called the stores and CP isn't something they use, all run copper or keep sensitive fish in hypo.

Calling around asking vets now, so far no luck, but maybe one will be sympathetic. Also posted in a regional forum.

Hypo doesn't work on all strains of ich and has virtually no impact on velvet. I've also found it to be very harsh on both fish and the nitrogen cycle/beneficial bacteria. For this reason I avoid it now.

 

[squampton]

I am going to go the cupramine route.

Doesn't seem to be any real way way to get CP. Stores cant/dont sell it and vets I have called said no.

I may have found someone who may have some waiting to see how old it is and if they have enough.

If I undetstand it has a shelf life of 2 years?

 

[squampton]

So, I'm currently running a Blue Spot Puffer (with velvet) through Cupramine. I got him at Petco, and wanted to test Cupramine out on a puffer after reading they handle it better than chelated copper. I took 4-5 days to get the QT up to full therapeutic (0.5ppm), but so far so good. I'll let you know if anything changes.

@Humblefish How did/is the puffer doing?

I held off using copper but looks like I have no option at this point.

I know there are ebay sellers for CP, but I am wary of ordering it as they sellers all seem to be in the US or elsewhere and I really have no idea on the legalities of it in Canada/crossing an international border.