Pork Puffer

[novice150]

I could use some help treating my puffer. He is in a 100 gal tank, with only two other fish. Filtration and parameters good. The other morning I woke up to find my large hermit crab pinning the puffer to the ground, eating one of his side fins. Up till this point the puffer appeared very healthy, and ate well. I separated the two of them and moved the crab to another tank. The puffer was breathing very heavy, and his eyes were cloudy. I kept the lights off all day so he could relax. Last night, he looked better. Breathing was normal, and he ate. His eyes have cleared some, but now his skin is peeling, and his fins appear to be decaying. Still very active, and eating. What should I do? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[beth]

What kind of tank do you have and do you have a separate hospital tank? I am thinking that an antibiotic treatement is needed. How big is this fish?
In the meantime, feed the fish garlic soaked food as garlic does have a mild antibiotic quality. Additionally, you can alternatively soak the fish food with Zoe or Zoecon in addition to the garlic. See if you can get Maracyn2 for SW fish, as this would be the antibiotic I'd recommend.

 

[novice150]

Well, its a 100, with skimmer and 50 gal wet/dry refugium. 2 inches ls, 20 lbs lr. I have a small snowflake, and 3 month old bamboo with him. The pork is about 5". His eyes are even better tonight. Almost 100% clear. Brething is normal. He just ate 3 krill. BUT, his skin and fins look REALLY bad. The peeling skin is spreading, and his bones are sticking out on his tail and fins Whats the quickest and safest way to help him? I do have a 10 gal hospital tank, but I tore it down about a month ago. What should I do?

 

[beth]

Do what I said with the garlic and watch him over the next 24 hours to see if there are improvements. If all this is a beating by a crab, then perhaps he just needs a few days to heal up. Moving him from a 100gal to a 10gal at this pt could just be adding to an already stressful situation. Give him the very best food that you can give him, and do soak the food in garlic.
Watch him and lets see what happens tommorrow. In the meantime, call around to your LFS's and see if any have Maracyn2 for Saltwaterfish...be sure to look for "2" and the saltwater variety. This just in case things deteriorate and the fish needs to go into the hosptital tank.
You do know how to move a puffer from one tank to another, don't you??
BTW: How big was this crab that could torment a 5" pufferfish?

 

[novice150]

Ok, soaking food in garlic. We'll see what happens. Yeah I know how to move the puffer. The crab was slightly larger than a golf ball. I cant decide whether the crab caused all this? Or if the puffer somehow got sick overnight, and was an easy target? At any rate, he's still alive, and eating. Thanks again.

 

[beth]

Terry, can you explain why you are recommending Neomycin? Isn't this a gram-positive antibiotic?

 

[novice150]

Glad to see other opinions! Not that I don't trust yours Beth. I have been feeding the puffer garlic soaked food. While he hasn't gotten any better, he doesn't appear to be getting worse. I have never used the meds you guys are referring to. Which one is best? Once I know that I will try to find it here localy. I have a few questions though. #1 how long should I treat? #2 Once the puffer is well, will putting him back in the main tank make him sick again? #3 Do I need to worry about my other fish in there? I have the snowflake and the shark with him. They seem to be doing great.

 

[beth]

Well, the reason I was asking Terry about his recommendation of the Neomycin is because that antibitic is gram positive. Most Marine bacterial infections are gram negetive, thus, neomycin's application in treating marine fish diseases, in most cases, is not effective.
I was interested in getting Terry to elaborate regarding his recommendation of this medication in regards to treating this particular fish's condition.