The Puffer Forum

Thanks Nick...I'm dosing his food right now, and plan on adding the tabs to his tank water (first dose) this morning. THen plan to do the water changes and 2nd and 3rd doses Friday/Sunday AM. Thanks again everyone, and I will update w/ how he takes the de-worming!

Thanks for everyone's input. I totally have been convinced to treat. Our first F8 that we got definitely had IPs, and by the time I tried to treat, he wasn't eating, and I could only treat the water...and he died two days later. He was FINE and healthily eating like a pig for about 3 weeks, and then...

So, unfortunately, at some point in the daytime yesterday while I was at work, our F8 died. So sad. Thanks everyone for all of your posts. His belly had darkened a bit Thursday night...and I did a water change Friday morning before going to work (even though the ammonia/ nitrite/ nitrate was 0/0/5)....

So,late last night (his light was already off), I went to check on him before we went to bed, and he was partially inflated again!!! He inflated not as much as he did Sunday morning, but maybe 3/4 of the size he was... he floated up and down the bubble wall, and around the tank a little bit (probabl...

SO he ate really well tonight, more than since before he inflated Sunday morning... took a shrimp tail to task! I have to say that I think the Garlic Extreme (even though I think I spent almost $20 on the bottle...although it will last a long while b/c all it takes is one drop) works wonders... OR, ...

Well, I am thinking now that he got freaked out by the other puffer...upon closer inspection, he has a couple of bruise type marks on his belly... I think he did it defensively... But, GOOD NEWS, he ate tonight. Not as voraciously as before he puffed, but the most he's eaten since, so I think it's d...

p.s. I also tested the water (just to be safe)...all was fine this AM: ph 8.0-8.2, ammonia-0, nitrite-0, nitrate-~5, salinity- 1.006, temp- 82. Really hoping he can recover from puffing...and whatever caused the other puffer to go off and die in less than 12 hours like that doesn't have any effect o...

Just got up at 4am to check on him :o He is doing okay.... a little skittish, but swimming normally...his belly is still a little wrinkly from puffing, but other than that, shows no signs of stress. His color is good. I am going to head to the gym and when I get home before work I'm going to offer h...

So :( when we got home from dinner tonight, the other F8 we had in the tank along w/ the puffer who puffed up this morning started acting ill, losing gravity....He was PERFECTLY healthy last night, eating fine... He had no control over his swimming, and passed away a little while ago. It was awful :...

Thanks guys... I will see if the epsom salt helps with what I think is constipation (his anus has been enlarged for a 2nd day now)... Since it's a 29 gallon, I added 6 tbsp. I don't think it was agression, since they do get along so well. I really can't wrap my brain around what caused him to puff u...

Yeah, he DEFINITELY wasn't just bloated...he was inflated at least to 2-3 times his size!! He's swimming around now, like nothing ever happened. Except for the fact that his belly is still a litle wrinkled (like he stayed in a bath way too long!) I just can't see him inflating as a 'defensive' mecha...

Update: we helped him deflate using the 'burping' method..both wearing gloves, my fiance and I held him upright and gently pressed on his belly until he started to dispel air...then we left him alone and he deflated all on his own. His belly still looks weird and 'grooved', but he is swimming around...

Hi, We have a 29 gal tank, 2 F8 puffers... both very healthy/ eating... I noticed one reddish mark on one F8 yesterday during the day...but never had seen any agression with them, so didn't think it was a bite or anything. THey seem to get along SO well with eachother. I did my weekly water change y...

Thanks, Yeah, they seem to be doing just fine today...haven't seen any flashing since Fri night...(not that it was constant flashing either)....and it seems from observing them that when they swim in front of the filter, that's when they really alternate use of their pectoral fins...really funny. We...

They are eating well...One better than the other. But I think the other guy is just a little more picky, too. When I got up this AM, they're both extremely active, which is GREAT. I still have the temp at about 83 degrees...The one who I really see not using his pectoral fins is also the guy who lov...