The Puffer Library

What to do if a puffer inflates with air?

Almost anyone who has heard of a puffer can tell you what makes them different from every other fish. It is their amazing ability to double or triple their size when needed for their protection. This amazing ability is made possible by unique adaptations. First, they do not have ribs. This allows their stomach to expand without having bone interference. Second, they have specialized muscles around their stomach and within their mouth to funnel water into the stomach. Finally, puffers have a thick rubbery skin that can expand easily. Both the stomach and skin are also pleated and folded, providing more room for expansion. Nearly all puffers also have spines that become very visible and erect when the puffer is in its expanded form. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

Internal parasites are something we usually don’t think much about, but thinking about them can save your fish, increase their growth rate and improve their overall health.

Generally, most fish carry a small load of parasites. However, when the fish is ill or under stress, the parasites can and will reproduce to levels that actually harm their host, causing the fish to lose weight, become more susceptible to illness and eventually stop eating and die. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

This article examines the uses and effectiveness of Melafix and Pimafix made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

Puffer Dentistry
Is your puffer becoming a little long in the tooth? Is it starting to resemble Bucky the Beaver? Then it is time to trim your puffer’s teeth! (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

We’ve all heard the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and there is no statement more true in fish-keeping. A quarantine tank is one of the most important tools any aquarist will use. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

If some morning you get up and it looks like someone has salted the body, fins, and gills of your fish, you are looking at Ich, sometimes called Ick, or white spot disease. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)

All too often fish, invertebrates, live rock and other organisms are not properly quarantined before being added to their new home, potentially introducing all kinds of opportunistic pathogens directly into the display tank. One particularly common disease is Cryptocaryon irritans, more commonly known as Marine or Saltwater Ich. If left untreated, this parasitic infestation can lead to other secondary opportunistic infections such as bacterial infections like fin rot, red patches, ulcerations, and ultimately death. (» Click here to read the rest of this article…)