Skin irritation

Hi everyone.
Do puffers get skin irritation often? What causes this? I see one that throws himself at plants and driftwood as if he is scratching himself. Carinotetraodon Irrubesco. It's been a while so I don't think it could be white spot. I turned the temp up and threw in some anti-ich meds. Any suggestions or opinions?

Thanks

 

Hi there

Can you please post some more details? Tank size, temperature, pH, tank mates etc. This may help us figure out what is wrong.

For future reference, don't EVER medicate before you know what is wrong in your tank. Many meds, anti-ich included, can wreak havoc on your filter and beneficial bacteria in your tank, putting the inhabitants at risk. Bear in mind that no puffers have scales, and this makes them sensitive to certain medications. Be careful when putting any chemical into a tank.

Regards

 

Tank size : 96l
Tank mates : 2 small Chinese algae eaters
7 irrubeso's (till end of the month when I buy another tank)
Heavily planted with flame moss and java fern.

I threw in 1/4 of the dosage. Just felt I had to try something. Will refrain in future.

 

Temp is 26-27

 

just checked the ph and it around neutral. 7.0-7.2

 

Hi @rjk when last did you add something new to your tank? White spot is a parasite and can't just appear out of nothing, especially if you haven't had any out breaks recently.

 

That is what i'm thinking @Naomi. It would have shown itself already. No recent additions. The Puffers are the only recent ones, 5 of them. About 2 or 3 weeks. I had 3 and they also sometimes did this. Never thought anything about it, but now i see that they are hurting themselves. Marks where the scratch.

 

Guys, ich doesn't have to be introduced with any new introduction to the tank. Fish can carry the ich parasite with them and remain healthy (showing no signs of illness), because their immune system keeps it suppressed. If something were to weaken their immune system - such as a rapid change in temperature, incorrect temperature for an amount of time, change in pH, high waste concentration in the tank etc - then the disease can take advantage of that.

 

So what should I do? Any suggestions? Aquarium salt and higher temp method?

 

Like I said before, it's not best to act straight away without knowing the cause. Turning up the temp can be useful, and although some ailments respond in the opposite way to higher temperatures, go for it. I'd be careful on the salt though.

Can you try post a pic or two?

 

I'll post pick when i'm back from work. Don't know how because they are camera shy!haha