puffer question

[balistidae]

just wondering if puffers realease a "poison" when they die? I just lost a stars and stripes to a darn powerhead. Now my niger trigger and panther grouper are both breathing heavy and immobile. My water checks out fine. I was talking to another aquarist and he had a similar experience...any ideas???thanks, Greg

 

[fishy411]

i think i've heard thast they do but it could be something else. it could be parasites. How long since the puffer died. I think that if it did release toxins u would probly notice fairly quickly.

 

[ryan]

I dont believe puffers can release a toxin. However there flesh and meat do contain a very toxic poison. If your fish took a bite out of them at all they are most likely poisoned.

 

[lion_crazz]

I'm going with what Ryan said. They do not release a poison, but being that you have semi to aggressive fish, I would not doubt that they looked at the puffer as a food source and tried to eat him, thus, getting sick themselves.
Please, keep me updated with what happens to the two fish so we can make a better conclusion.

 

[balistidae]

update : its about 24 hours since the puffer was foound dead. These two are not looking good at all. They have both become very pale and sunken in looking. Breathing heavy and no interest in food. I have done two 5g gallon water changes in the last 24 hours. (90g tank). The puffer did not sit dead in the tank any longer than two hours. I woke up and fed everybody and when i came back a couple hours later i found him stuck to the powerhead dead. I will keep everyone updated

 

[lion_crazz]

I am sorry to hear that they are not well. I hope they get better. Keep us updated.

 

[fishy411]

did he have any bite marks?

 

[ryan]

I did a little research to make sure I was right on the comment I said, and try to help you out a little. From everything Ive read the puffers can not "release" any toxins. Boxfish and Trunkfish are able to. The poison that is in a puffers body is very toxic and its a neurotoxin. If your fish took any bite out of the puffer they would be affected even a little bite. However since its a nuerotoxin I would think the fish would twich and swin erradicly. Are you sure the fish died from the powerhead and not from a disease? I dont know the size of your fish, but if the puffer was smaller he might have died a lot quicker while the bigger fish will take a little while. I hope some of this will help you. Good Luck

 

[balistidae]

he was just a little guy. He was actually in my refugium section in the sump. ( Fuge only has a DSB and some rock in it right now). So biting was not a possibility. All fish were acting perfectly normal before the death. Water quality has always been good. I dont think the niger will make it through tonite. I would quarantine him and treat him but i dont know what to treat for. I have been doing about a 10% WC for the last 3 days.....Greg

 

[liontamer]

Possiblity cross yer mind that the puffer died from sumthing, and now that sumthing is killing yer other fish? Could be a disease, sumthing that you put in the water, the food that you fed them, endles possiblities. Might wanna check that out, cuz the only other reasons the fish woul dbe freaking out is that there was a dead fish in the tank

 

[balistidae]

i am not ruling those pssibilities out...I just have heard more than one account of a similar occurance. I could see it being a good possibily due to the toxicity of the puffer family.

 

[offshore80]

Wow, sorry to hear about your ordeal... I would add a big sock of charcoal to take out any toxins in the water if it's there. I have a 10" Stars & Stripes. I've heard they can release a toxin if they puff. I would also do a 50% water change.

 

[balistidae]

update...
I have lost all but the eel. I hate to say it but i think my aquarium days are done. Thank you guys for all the help you have offered....Greg

 

[offshore80]

I know that it is very stressful for a puffer to puff. And they will shed a poisonous mucus into the water, thereby putting at risk other tankmates and itself. Wether or not yours did though?

 

[lilstrup]

they do have a toxic flesh so if one of ur fish has taken a bite out of the dead fish that could be the reason