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Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:18 pm
by Nyshae
Hello,

I have a dwarf puffer fish that attempts to eat but vomits the food back up. I had tried feeding very small portions, in case this is an overeating issue, but he still cannot keep food down. He actively hunts and tries to eat, but is unsuccessful. This has gone on now for several days.

Water testing showed 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, 5ppm nitrate. Fish are feed bloodworms and snails. Water change ~20% weekly.

The fish is in a 20 gallon with two other dwarf puffers. The other two puffers are behaving normally.

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:44 pm
by puffykid
Hello, welcome to the forum.

Does the dp that can't keep the food down have a sunken belly? It might be internal parasites

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:56 pm
by Pufferpunk
I agree--sometimes the stomach is so full of worms, there is no room for food.

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:12 am
by RTR
+1 to puffykid & Pufferpunk's comments. That is a classic symptom of IPs (intestinal parasites) .

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:08 pm
by Nyshae
The belly does look slightly sunken. How would I treat for this?

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:21 pm
by Flutter
Buy the Jungle fizz antiparasite tablets. Put 1/4 of one into 1/4c of tank water, add food, let sit in the fridge for a few hours, then feed to all of the fish in the tank.

I always use a favourite food so it's extra tempting :)

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:51 pm
by Nyshae

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:01 pm
by Flutter
Yep :)

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:38 pm
by Nyshae
The puffers seem to think it tastes terrible and spit it back out.

How often should I be trying to get them to eat it?

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:28 pm
by Flutter
Every meal for at least 4 doses/days. Whether they like it or not they don't get another option ;)

That being said you can add crushed garlic to the water to mask the taste a bit. You could also add the medication to the tank water. It's thought that if their water tastes funny then the food doesn't taste any funnier.

Re: Dwarf puffer unable to keep food down

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:39 pm
by Nyshae
Thank you for the help!