Puffer has a swollen...cheek? Please help

[Mopar]

Today when i got home I went into my room to say hello to my little buddy. I didn't notice anything wrong, but when i sprinkled some blood worms into the tank, I noticed he was having trouble grabbing them to eat. He couldn't close his mouth all the way from what I could see. I thought maybe it was his teeth growing out too far, but i did a little motion and he came up to the tank wall. I looked at his teeth closely and they were fine. And then I noticed one side of his face was swollen. It looks like someone who just had a tooth pulled. I'm worried about him. I have no idea what it is. I'd try and get a picture, but he is very camera shy, whenever i put it up to the tank he swims away.
Anyone have any idea of what it could be?

Thanks!

[Pufferpunk]

Haven't come across anything like that before, that I can think of. Epsom salt is known to reduce swelling. I'd add Melafix too.

[Puffer Queen]

I have seen abscesses in the gun/jaw before. Need to start antibiotic baths and/or antibiotic laced food. This can progress quickly and left untreated it will lead to death.

I do not know what type of puffer this is so I can not recommend any specific antibiotic.

[Mopar]

Sorry, I was kind of upset when i wrote that and didn't even think about saying what kind of puffer he is. He's a GSP.

[Mopar]

I really appreciate the help. I'm going to get right on this!

[Mopar]

He's not getting any better, it actually looks like it is getting worse. I soaked his food in melafix and I've also tried pimafix. Neither are working. And now he won't even eat, just a slight nibble here and there. I went to my LFS and got some metro ms Acriflavine ms. I guess I'll give it a shot. The others aren't working. This is killing me, I can't let my little buddy die. He's my room buddy. He's right next to my bed and I watch him every night before I go to sleep.

[Boxermom]

Melafix and Pimafix are to be added to the water, not the food. As PufferQueen said, you need antibiotics. Neither Melafix or Pimafix is an antibiotic.

[Mopar]

Great. Ok. Can you tell me what exactly it is I need, like brand name and so on. I didn't know. She (pufferpunk) said add melafix. I did add it to the water as well. But anyway, that's what the LFS gave me. I'm pretty much lost when it comes to medicine.

[Boxermom]

I don't know, you might want to PM PufferQueen and ask her. Make sure you tell her what kind of puffer and what your SG is and all that sort of info.

[Pufferpunk]

Melafix is tea tree oil. It is great for mild bacterial problems, frayed fins/scratches & such. It can be used in conjunction with more serious meds. It's always good to try 1st but you need to bring out the big guns for what's going on with your puffer.

[Mopar]

Ok. My typing to me seems to be coming off a little edgy. I don't mean for it to, but i'm really upset. sorry if it does. My animals aren't animals to me, some are like brothers and sisters (I'm an only child) and some are like kids (2 cats and Mr. Puffy). Thanks for your help.
Also, what exactly does SG mean?

[Boxermom]

Specific gravity. Sorry, I was assuming you had your GSP in brackish water.

[Pufferpunk]

Specific gravity--measurement of salt content.

[Puffer Queen]

I don't have experience with antibiotics with brackish puffers.....don't know if this is a gram negative or gram positive bacteria as gram negative is more common with saltwater fish and gram positive is more common with freshwater fish.

For saltwater puffers - I like kanamycin, nitrofurazone and Maracyn-2 (minocycline).

If I had to pick antibiotics for a brackish, I probably would use maracyn (erythromycin) which covers gram positive bacteria AND maracyn-2 which covers the gram negative bacteria. I would add the amount recommended for 10 gallons to just one gallon and aerate well. Leave the puffer in the antibiotic bath for one hour.

Anyone else have experience with treating bacterial infections in brackish fish?????

[Mopar]

Thank you very much, once again I appreciate the help! and as for the SG thing. I looked up what it stood for but i didn't know what it meant lol. Thanks for clarifying.