How to Treat Porcupine Fish With Velvet

Porcupine fish, also known as porcupine puffer fish, are large spotted fish that puff with water or air when they feel threatened. During this puffing action, which makes the fish look like a balloon, it thrusts out many short spikes, from which it gets its name. Though known as robust fish, porcupine fish require specific care to remain healthy and can sometimes be vulnerable to diseases, such as velvet --- a parasite that attacks the fins, body and gills. Fish with velvet appear to have white spots and may act ill or lethargic.

Things You'll Need

  • Hospital aquarium
  • Towel
  • Copper sulfate medication
  • Water testing kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a hospital aquarium for the affected porcupine fish. A hospital aquarium, a separate aquarium used only for sick fish, will allow you to treat only the sick fish and will also minimize the stress on the porcupine fish, as other aquarium inhabitants will not be able to bother it. This hospital aquarium should have the same water parameters, such as pH level and temperature, as the main aquarium. These conditions help the porcupine fish adjust easily to the move.

    • 2

      Keep the hospital aquarium in a darkened room. You may also want to drape a towel over the aquarium if the room is not dark enough. The velvet parasite contains chlorophyll and is sometimes referred to as an algae. Algae and other organisms that use chlorophyll require light to thrive. Darkening the environment may kill the velvet strain, or at least stop it from spreading.

    • 3

      Dose the sick fish with a copper sulfate medication. You can find many different copper sulfate medications at pet stores. The copper sulfate will help kill the velvet strain. Follow the directions for the specific medication you choose.

    • 4

      Use a water testing kit to determine the level of copper in the aquarium. Although the medication you're using should tell you how long to use it, and should contain the correct levels of copper, double check. The copper level of the hospital aquarium should range from .15 to .2 parts per million. Treat the sick porcupine fish for about two weeks.