Epsom salt treatment???

[Jenn]

My blue dot puffer has developed this cloudy bluish covering over his eyes and I was wondering if I can use epsom salt to treat it? It has been there for about a week now, and I am noticing him having trouble feeding. Other inhabitants of the 125 gallon tank are 2 perc clowns, foxface, hermits, scarlet cleaner shrimp, xenia, califlower leather, mushrooms, and starburst polyps. I can't seem to find any articles on the net about this or know how much to add if I can. Thanks.

Jenn

[kakfish]

I have used epson salt on Pop Eye, and had great results. It sound like the puffer has Oodinium (also known as velvet disease). It likes the eyes and gills of many of out fishy friends. Epson Salt won't work on this. By the time you get this message he may be gone, or not. If the fish is in an invert tank, and it is, just keep the temp stable and the fish well fed. Then cross your fingers. The disease is very contagious. I've never seen anything work on it in an invert enviorment. In fish only systems I would reccomend copper @ .15 ppm. Remember the decimal in .15

Fish get real sick during this time of the year because of the temp swing. So keep it steady @ 78.

[Jenn]

Thanks for the help Kakfish. He is still doing ok, and he is eating, which is always a good sign. No one else in the tank has any signs of this. I will try my best to keep the temp steady - great tip.