sick puffer at work

[cotigostar]

I work at petland and we have a puffer in a big show tank. I'm not sure how big the tank is but I'm guessing close to 200 gallons. He is a porcupine puffer and they have had him close to a year. As of Sunday he hasn't moved around too much and has stayed hidden in the rocks in the tank. He lives with 2 eels, a lionfish, and a toadfish (?) that he has lived with for a while now. He is usually very "playful" and he follows you around as you walk in front of the tank. And when he see's the net...oh boy! he know's he's getting fed and he swims all around. The lionfish usually gets to most of the fish the fastest but he isnt too far behind. I'm not sure what is wrong with him and I was wondering if anyone had had a problem with their puffer before. His color has gotten much darker and he has developed a white spot on his head. I read that they are prone to ich so we treated the tank for that but if he isnt doing better tomorrow we are going to put him in a 55 gallon just to monitor him better over the next few days. If anyone has anything that could help I would appreciate it. I just met the guy cause I started 2 weeks ago, but everyone in the store loves him and I would hate for anything to happen to him.

 

[ramjet33]

hows the water quality....try a water change first. also if his head is getting hole in head disease...you need to change the diet. i cant imagine eating not vitamin brine shrimp for ever could be good for him. i would do these things first before adding chemicals to the water. it may not be the problem. also, puffers have a thick skin. so the irritans parasite like to go for the gills and fins....not the head...usually. jmo

 

[hammerhed7]

if they are being fed live freshwater fish they are probably in bad health due to their diet. Freshwater feeders are terrible for marine fish, causing liver problems.