Got any ideas what this is on my porcupine puffer?

[jennyclark]

Here's a link to an awesome picture of what I am about to describe.
http://www.plecos.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=47&pos=57

My porcupine puffer is about 6" long and I've had him for over a year. Every time I move a rock or mess with the sandbed, he gets these little white spots on his fins. This last time (about 5 days ago) he also got them on his body. They don't seem to bother him and they usually (but not this time) go away in a day or two and don't come back until the next time.

If I just do a normal sandsifting with the water changes, this does not happen. Only when I remove sand (I hate Reef Base, btw) or move a rock.

None of the other tank mates have this, except occasionally the bluejaws get it on their fins only, but not this time. It doesn't matter if I keep the salinity at 1.018 or 1.024. 0 ammonia, 0 trites, <=40 trates, 8.3 pH. No new tank mates.

Any ideas on what this is and how to rid my system of it?

thanks --jenny

 

[steve-s]

Just a guess but most likely with moving the rock you are releasing into the water column an accumulation of detritus/organics thereby increasing the level of opportunistic bacteria at the same time. The white marks are most likely an ever so slight bacterial infection that the fish seem to cope with quite quickly. You can improve on this (speed of recovery) by doing some good sized water changes whenever rock is moved (or not moving the rock ) to reduce the organics. With a puffer, I'd also try and keep your nitrates a bit lower as well. They are very prone to casual bacterial/trematode problems. The puffer looks to be extremely healthy otherwise.

FWIW, a lowered specific gravity of "1.018 or 1.024" will have no affect on parasites.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jennyclark]

THanks Steve. I don't usually move the rocks, but I have once or twice to increase water circulation throughout the tank.

I've gotten nitrates down to this level from a prior 80ish. With my dip strip test, they measure around 40. With my SeaTest kit, they measure about 15ppm.

So bigger water changes is your vote? i typically and religiously do 45g every 7-10 days and it's a 180g tank.

--jenny

 

[steve-s]

15 ppm is not all that bad (if accurate) but would still be a good goal to get it lower if you can. The types of fish you keep mean messy eaters/large waste production so trying to keep on top of that is important. Your water change schedule is definately better than most but I would suggest looking at alternate means of conversion/export to "ease your pain" so to speak. Until then, mabye more frequent changes moreso than larger volume....

A majority of the fish you have will do fine for the most part but puffers and the like are not so resiliant. I would hate to see a specimen as beautiful as the puffer you have not remain so.

How's it's appetite?

Cheers
Steve

 

[jennyclark]

Any suggestions on increased waste management? It's 180g with a 45g sump (only about 25g of water in it). I use an AquaC EV180 skimmer with Mag 7 pump. I have 225 pounds of LR or more. I use an Iwaki 100 for sump return and a Via Aqua powerhead, so movement is not an issue.

Porky's appetite is voracious as usual, no behavioral changes, just these little spots. Doesn't look like ich and no one else has them right now. His tankmates include a pair of 6" bluejaw triggers, 4" niger trigger, 3" regal tang, 7" rabbitfish, and 7" dampiera pseudochromis/grouper.

I supplement his food (frozen seafood and frozen fishfood) with garlic and zoe or zoecon. I have bought beta glucan, but i am unsure how to dose it and get it in him.

--jenny

 

[steve-s]

Any suggestions on increased waste management? It's 180g with a 45g sump (only about 25g of water in it). I use an AquaC EV180 skimmer with Mag 7 pump. I have 225 pounds of LR or more. I use an Iwaki 100 for sump return and a Via Aqua powerhead, so movement is not an issue.

A skimmer upgrade would help but considering the cost, you might try incorporating a large regugium with macro algaes that can be harvested to improve natural filtration. The use of carbon/polyfilters and the like. There is also a coil denitrator but they take time to get going and can be a bit of a pain.

I supplement his food (frozen seafood and frozen fishfood) with garlic and zoe or zoecon. I have bought beta glucan, but i am unsure how to dose it and get it in him.

From this article........ BETA GLUCAN AS A BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE MODULATOR:
HELPING FISH TO HELP THEMSELVES

Since there are no known side effects and it is not a drug giving the fish an exact dose is not critical. The dose of 0.02% a day of body weight has been suggested. However, safety evaluations indicate that beta glucan can be used over a wide dose range. Studies with animals suggest that the optimal oral dosage of beta glucan is in the range of 0.4-1.5 grams per 100 kilograms of body weight per day. Feeding a larger portion probably will not improve the results, can be expensive and is not intended as a replacement or reduction in the amount of food normally offered.

Basically a small sprinkle should do. Guessing each fish weights about 4-6 oz, 0.0075 g/fish each day.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jake65]

Here's a link to an awesome picture of what I am about to describe.
http://www.plecos.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=47&pos=57

My porcupine puffer is about 6" long and I've had him for over a year. Every time I move a rock or mess with the sandbed, he gets these little white spots on his fins. This last time (about 5 days ago) he also got them on his body. They don't seem to bother him and they usually (but not this time) go away in a day or two and don't come back until the next time.

If I just do a normal sandsifting with the water changes, this does not happen. Only when I remove sand (I hate Reef Base, btw) or move a rock.

None of the other tank mates have this, except occasionally the bluejaws get it on their fins only, but not this time. It doesn't matter if I keep the salinity at 1.018 or 1.024. 0 ammonia, 0 trites, <=40 trates, 8.3 pH. No new tank mates.

Any ideas on what this is and how to rid my system of it?

thanks --jenny

I'm with ya on the reef base...lol