ich emergency, Fahaka

[electromen]

When I woke up this morning I was bummed to see several ich spots on my Fahaka.. what would be the most effective way to treat it?

The only thing I could think that gave it to him was the chunk of smelt I fed him last night. Its not bad yet, but it almost doesn't look like ich. The white spots look like there growing out of his skin, kinda like a zit, vs looking like its sprinkled on like ich looks. He's really cranky today too.

The tank also has several low light plants in it.

[Pufferpunk]

Can you post a pic of the spots? What are the water parameters/tank stats?

[electromen]

My camera isn't good enough to get a clear close up shot. I figured it was still ick, it just looked different because he's scaleless. There was only a few spots so I put him in a 10g hospital tank and dosed some quickcure. Today I woke up and the spots are already gone. I'm going to do one more dose to make sure, but he's up and active so thats a great sign. I caught it nice and early.

His main tank stats are
0 ppm Ammonia
0 ppm Nitrite
<10 ppm Nitrate
78 degrees F

Tankmates include several delinquent barbs and some uncatchable uro fry.

[Pufferpunk]

I wouldn't have dosed the fish with anything, since it's scaleless. Quick Cure can do permanent harm to a puffer. Salt & heat is all you need. How big is his main tank? I gather since he fits into a 10g, he's not very big?

[electromen]

Bummer, I got some bad advise elseware. He's only about 3-4 inches right now, his main is a 75 but I have an empty 180 waiting for him when he gets larger. He's also had cloudy eyes ever since I got him, but I assume thats just part of his natural camo.. correct me if I'm wrong.

[fella]

Depends what you mean by cloudy. Puffers eyes can produce different colours in different lights, but actually clouded is bad news.

Pufferpunk is right, the best way to treat puffers with ich is salt and heat. However, if you're unsure of it being ich, you'd do well to get a photo somehow.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd add Melafix too.
See: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/library/hospital/fwich/

[electromen]

Thanks for the article, you wouldn't believe how hard it is to find this kind of information.

[Pufferpunk]

Looking in the wrong places? ;)

["13"]

Melafix is the bomb along with Pimafix they are the only meds i use. as well as a little salt and heat.

[Pufferpunk]

Keep in mind that those 2 are for scrapes, frayed fins & light fungal problems. Not for severe bacterial/fungal problems or for ridding parasites.