Figure Eight puffer - to medicate or <span title="not.........................">not.........................</span>

Question

I have 2 figure eight puffers in a 26 gallon tank to themselves. Water is 0 ammon., 0 nitrite, about 15 nitrate, ph 8.0 and the tank is 80 degrees. I am currently slowly transitioning them to brackish because they were in fw at the fish store. Just a tad bit of instant ocean at this point - I'm taking the transition to brackish slowly so they can adjust. Both puffers have nice rounded bellies and a huge appetite. They are both active and show no signs of illness. The problem is I noticed both of them are scratching occassionally. (I am near their tank a lot during the day and the scratching is maybe once an hour). From research, I know that puffers are very prone to internal parasites and this can be a sign - but they don't match any of the other symptoms such as a concave belly. I also know that they are very sensitive to medication - so I really don't want to medicate unless it is a necessity. I am new to puffer keeping (have only had them a few weeks) so am still learning about them. Is it normal for them to scratch occassionally? Should a medicate or wait to see if more symptoms develop? If I medicate, what medication is the best for them? Thank you

Answer 1

i had fugure 8 puffers and mine did the same sometimes. i woulndnt treat for any parasites until your sure, if they are eating and otherwise acting normally leave them , just keep  in eye on them for developing infections.

should just add ... these fish need a food that contains broken shell, their teeth never stop growing and need to be ground down. feeding soft foods will cause the teeth to eventually grow into the bottom lip and the fish will be unable to eat any more. i had this with one of mine and had to use nail clippers to trim the teeth to a reasonable size. not nice for me or the puffer.

Answer 2

oh, their fine! I have 3 puffers, most puffers do that. they are completely healthy. I even did a report about puffers.

Answer 3

I do not think that is is an internal parasite. I had a clown loach with an internal parasite and he just stopped eating and got skinnyer and skinnyer. I treated him but he did not make it. I think it could be marine ich. Scratching is one of the first signs of ich. Ich is an external parasite, not internal. It goes through a 3 stage life cycle. egg(which I think your puffers are in now) larvae (which are the white dots) and adult (which is little white thing wriggling around at the bottom of your tank. It is hard to see adult ich parasites, but it is possible.) Don&#039;t wait for the white  dots to appear, that might be to late for your puffers, if you turn the water temp up to 86F it will kill that parasite b4 they kill your fish. Also, you will not have to treat them with any meds because they are so sensitive to the meds. Just slowly raise the temp like how you are turning the water brackish.