Brackish water puffer with greyish/blackish stuff around its white belly

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Hi, I have a brackish water/Fresh water leopard puffer aka spotted puffer and I noticed today that around the rim of his white belly next to the yellow and black spots... It looks like his scales are coming off or he rubbed up against something and they came off.... Does anyone know anything?!?! I have had my puffer for 3 months... he is 3 inches... It is not the water either... It is dechlor. freshwater with aquarium salt in it... pH is perfect, no ammonia, no nothing!!
PLEASE HELP!!
David-O

 

[pufferlover]

As far as the spotted Puffer you mention I have had 4 of them (2 pairs over the years and since they are a smooth skinned scaleless fish what you are seeing is probably either slime coat or skin rubbed off and hanging. Is the fish as far as you can see rubbing against things or does it like to lay on the bottom and do you have crushed coral or if brackish regular small stone type substrate which could be the cause of this if it is on the underside. If the fish is eating and its eyes are clear and it does not seem to be in discomfort I would probably get some NovaAqua or Polyaqua which is a slime coat covering and water conditioner for salt or fresh used at 5ml per 10 gallons. If the fish is rubbing tho it is a different story and you need to get back to us with that info.

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Puffer lover, I have a small stone gravel on the bottom-- I haven't seen him rub on that. He also is eating very well--Frozen brineshrimp and blood worms. He never goes to the bottom... he is always under the power filter. It goes from his mouth to the tail... I just don't know what is causing it.. or what it is...

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Also, he seems to be acting normal, he is the only one in this 10 gallon tank. also, i think his teeth are getting big... should i feed him snails to file his teeth?... I just heard this on another BB...

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

His eyes are clear...

 

[pufferlover]

From what you say it sounds like he is fine other then the problem you mentioned. If it were me I would watch him closely and see if it gets better or worse (as long as he is not showing any signs of discomfort or spotting or cloudy fins). This can be the hardest thing to do and that is to wait a bit. Fish seem to have a amazing ability to heal themselves if given a chance, especially when the problems cause can't be ascertained right away.
Now as far as the teeth. What I do is feed my Puffers some tetra min tablets in order to get them to chew a bit (and they love them- they are actually freshwater food and come in little tins of about 100 tablets). I also find that my BIG Dogface will chew on the substrate and the small amount of rock in the tank and that keeps his teeth clean and bright (not to mention his breath- just kidding a bit). I have not tried but have read that small clams bought at the market fish dept. can be put in for it to nibble on. Snails will work but most snails would be a bit big for a 3 inch Puffer to get a grip on altho the gnawing could not hurt either. Teeth that get to long can be a problem as then the Puff cannot eat properly. I have a Valentini that has the teeth of Dracula and I have not been able to solve his problem.
Anyway keep in touch here or thru the club and let me know how and what it is doing and if it does not improve we will figure something out.

 

[pufferlover]

Hi trey; haven't heard from her yet still hoping to. Interesting thing was as I typed my answer above talking about the Valentini it suddenly came to me I didn't remember seeing it lately. I went upstairs to check the 46 it was in and by darn it is gone. I hardly ever miss accounting for my fish but I did blow this one, I have no clue how long it has been missing. In checking the tank I find no body (also nothing on the floor behind they tank). This is strange as to where it went but I will have to look more later and check my readings.
Another note I read a article awhile back about some aquaruim that had a Dogface with bad teeth and they had a dentist come in and work on it, and they described how he did it, very interesting.

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

Hi, Puffer is looking better now... I didn't do anything, just went away... I heard of people putting files in the water and letting the puffers chew on the files... might sound absurd... that's what i though

 

[kdlbem]

Glad to hear they got better. I love my little brackish puffers! never a problem with that tank, EVER. Nothing but a 40 percent water change every month or so, and they are as happy as can be. BTW, I feed mine frozen brine or mysis shrimp, and freeze dried plankton. Anything else I should be feeding them?
B
[ May 29, 2001: Message edited by: KDLBEM ]

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

I feed mine frozen brine shrimp, frozen blood worms, live crickets, live feeder fish (SMALL ONES), and cichlid pellets... Don't ask me.... she likes 'em!!
[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: Megalodon In MY AQUARIUM ]

 

[pufferlover]

Glad to hear it is doing better. As mentioned patience in this hobby is a must (and it was the hardest thing I had to learn).

 

[megalodon in my aquarium]

My puffer is dead.... I don't know what happened. he was looking much better... no signs left of disease or sickness, and then boom! I woke up this morning and he was dead
[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: Megalodon In MY AQUARIUM ]

 

[pufferlover]

I am sorry to hear that thought it was out of the woods. I have had a number of Puffers that did not do well and no real reason I could figure. If you enjoyed it and can find another I would say go for it again.