Puffer fish white spot

[Fry1992]

Hi all, was hoping someone could help. Is the attached the dreaded itch on my puffer he is eating well.

Current water
Ammonia 0.25 (trying to reduce this to 0)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 50 (trying to also reduce this appreciate it isn't good)
Ph - 8
Salt - 1.021
Temperature - 25

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It appears to be too large and diffuse to be ich. Could be a few ich trophonts all bunched up, but I don’t think so.
Could be a slight injury with a mild bacterial overgrowth.
Jay

 

[Fry1992]

Hi Jay, thanks for replying again. So hard to tell with my lack of experience and seeing diseases for the first time etc

 

[Sam816]

I think it's dead skin/tissue. Let us know if there is a hole at that spot. My foxface had similar mark on her fin. This morning it's a hole.

 

[Fry1992]

Thanks Will take a good look when the light is back on. From a water parameters point of view my ammonia and Nitrate is higher than it should be how often can I do water changes to reduce this ? I am currently doing bi-weekly to try and reduce but could I do more often than that ? Say every other day or would that cause more harm than good ?

 

[ScubaSkeets]

If its an API test, chances are that the ammonia is not 0.25. See my question regarding 0.25 ammonia here:

Thread 'Ammonia at .25 PPM. Water change or wait?' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-at-25-ppm-water-change-or-wait.796706/

And my post on comparing API and Salifert ammonia tests here:

Thread 'Pic confirmation of false API ammonia readings' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/pic-confirmation-of-false-api-ammonia-readings.803448/

 

[Fry1992]

Thanks Scuba I am using a salifert kit rather than ABI, the high level of Nitrate is what worries me a lot currently with it being around 50