My figure 8 puffer has ich

Question
I bought this new chi tank because it looked cool. It is 5 gallons, and I
took it home and set it up for 3 days before I put my puffer in it.
Everything was going fine until I realized what a messy fish this is. The
tank got very dirty after a few weeks so I began partial water changes.
Well this did not help. I  tried chemicals, I tried feeding him less, I
changed his filter, and eventually just started over with new water and
rocks. I know this tank is too small for him after I researched puffer
fish(which I should have done before I got him), so I purchased a 20
gallon tank. I believe that the first tank was made for looks and is really a
terrible design. I set up the new tank and it is ready to go, but all the
stress from my struggles with the first tank and water problems has
caused my puffer to get ich. I have never treated a fish with ich. I am
sooo worried. I already have the recommended amount of salt in his
tank which is about 72 degrees. He is worse today. Will he be harder to
cure because he dosen't have scales? Should I go ahead and move him
to the new tank and risk contaminating it? Should I treat him with the
medicine more often? I'll do anything to save my little guy! I really like
him. Advice?

Answer
Hi Michelle,

I have some good advice for you about him, yes.  I kept puffers for a long time.  They are hardy and easy to keep if you give them sufficient salt.

Most only advise a tablespoon per gallon, but I always used 2 tablespoons to two and a half, per gallon that is enough to keep them from getting constant illness from a freshwater environment.  I have even kept mine in full saltwater, and they have done just fine.

Full saltwater is half a cup per gallon.  Please consider adding more salt, and when you do, you may see the ich disappear.

You are definitely correct, that the stress helped bring this on.  They are sensative to change.  Any decrease in immunity can make a fish an easy target for parasites which exist naturally in the atmosphere.

I have a bit of input also, and this isn't just my opinion, it's the opinion of other fish experts around the world:  Although many successfully keep this fish in freshwater, it truly is not a freshwater fish.  Petstores and pet personnel often sell it as such, however it will end up sick all the time, if kept in freshwater or low salt environments.

Treat him like a brackish fish with brackish requirements and the ich will disappear, as well as any other fungal issues.  Freshwater parasites can't live in saltwater comfortably and he will also be far less stressed out by being in an environment closer to nature.

You may not get to house him with freshwater fish, however there are many other brackish fish who are great tankmates out there for the little guy.

I truly hope this helps. :)

Happy holidays and happy fish-keeping!

Renee