Puffer Help
- Thread starter porcpuf
- Start date
Well, it is hard to really tell what is going on. Is the spot on both eyes? Is it on the eye ball? What is the color? Please give a detailed description. Is it a wound or something attached>
How was the puffer handled during transition from store to your tank? At any time, was the puffer out of the water?
How was the puffer handled during transition from store to your tank? At any time, was the puffer out of the water?
porcpuf
Member
The spot goes around one eye but stops right before the other eye. (The eyes themselves look fine.) It goes back just about to his mid fin. Yesterday it was lighter in color and a little smaller in diameter IMO but today is kinda purple. It looks almost like a bruise. All in all it is a little bigger then a quarter but considering how small he is (about 2 1/2") it covers a good portion of him.
When he was placed in the bag at the LFS my view was kinda blocked by the person but I did not notice him being out of the water, he puffed up was very quickly released and hasn't puffed since. I used a 5 gallon bucket for acclimation and then a large container to move him to the tank so to my knowledge he was not ever out of the water, however the LFS had just gotten him that morning so I do not know how he was treated at that point.
This morning he was moving really slow and once he seemed to be stuck against the filter tube but when I moved my hand towards him he was able to swim away. He has since been swimming around a little better but still at times seems sluggish for lack of a better word. All my chemicals are in check and I'm at a loss. I have been looking all over the web today and haven't found much at all. I have also tried several times to get him to eat and he has not at all the whole time I've had him. I've tried brine shrimp, shrimp, clam, with garlic juice and without and as of yet he has ate nothing.
Poor little puffy... He is so small and has the cutest smile I just want to do anything and everything I can for him.
When he was placed in the bag at the LFS my view was kinda blocked by the person but I did not notice him being out of the water, he puffed up was very quickly released and hasn't puffed since. I used a 5 gallon bucket for acclimation and then a large container to move him to the tank so to my knowledge he was not ever out of the water, however the LFS had just gotten him that morning so I do not know how he was treated at that point.
This morning he was moving really slow and once he seemed to be stuck against the filter tube but when I moved my hand towards him he was able to swim away. He has since been swimming around a little better but still at times seems sluggish for lack of a better word. All my chemicals are in check and I'm at a loss. I have been looking all over the web today and haven't found much at all. I have also tried several times to get him to eat and he has not at all the whole time I've had him. I've tried brine shrimp, shrimp, clam, with garlic juice and without and as of yet he has ate nothing.
Poor little puffy... He is so small and has the cutest smile I just want to do anything and everything I can for him.
Yes, puffers are really adorable, aren't they. They also are real fish pets as well. "the dogs of the tank". 
It is really haed to give you a diagnose, especially without getting a clear view of the problem, but I think the problem is that the fish puffed. This is really not good for pufferfish. It means that he was really stressed. If he took in air at any time and puffed, then the fish could have some serious problems.
See if you can keep trying to get a closeup pic for us.
It is really haed to give you a diagnose, especially without getting a clear view of the problem, but I think the problem is that the fish puffed. This is really not good for pufferfish. It means that he was really stressed. If he took in air at any time and puffed, then the fish could have some serious problems.
See if you can keep trying to get a closeup pic for us.
porcpuf
Member
:nope: I have tried but been very unsuccessfull in getting a better picture. Unfortunately he does not appear to be doing very well at all. He has only swam about 2 minutes all night and all day today and he still won't eat. The eye on the discoloration side has gotten cloudy and his breathing is very irregular. My fingers are crossed but at this point I just don't know of anything I can do other than watch and hope for the best.
Beth, thank you for your help I will update whenever anything changes.
Beth, thank you for your help I will update whenever anything changes.
Just move him over for now. BE SURE to NOT have him out of water at any time.
Go ahead a drop salinity in order to relieve stress a bit. Is the QT cycled??
Look for Maracyn Two for saltwaterfish at the store but don't use it yet.
Do you have a refractometer? If not, a good glass hydrometer will do. The hypo is to relieve stress at this point, not get rid of ich. The procedure is outlined in the FAQ Thread at the top of this forum.
When he gets into the QT, start using a stress coat.
Go ahead a drop salinity in order to relieve stress a bit. Is the QT cycled??
Look for Maracyn Two for saltwaterfish at the store but don't use it yet.
Do you have a refractometer? If not, a good glass hydrometer will do. The hypo is to relieve stress at this point, not get rid of ich. The procedure is outlined in the FAQ Thread at the top of this forum.
When he gets into the QT, start using a stress coat.
porcpuf
Member
In the end about 3/4 of his body was "purple"ish(His stumoch stayed white however), his cloudy eye was extremely swollen, and his breathing was so heavy it made me short of breath. Though we only knew him a short time it is a sad day... I just wish we could have saved him.
I'm going to wait a week or two and make sure everyone else is okay before seeking any more additions to the tank at which time maybe we can find a healthy puffer from a store other then the lfs where we purchased this one.
Beth, I want to thank you for all your help during this and for the help you show everyone else as well. You truly must be a caring and patient individual... Thank you.
Porcpuf
I'm so sorry to hear this. Did you get a chance to move him to the QT before he died?
I have to say, I feel that the problem is that he inflated. Perhaps was even mis-handled at the LFS resulting in the the inflation, since you didn't exactly see how he was removed.
Always be sure that folks at the LFS NEVER remove a puffer from the water.
I have to say, I feel that the problem is that he inflated. Perhaps was even mis-handled at the LFS resulting in the the inflation, since you didn't exactly see how he was removed.
Always be sure that folks at the LFS NEVER remove a puffer from the water.