constipated mbu!!

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Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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constipated mbu!!

Post by matt willis »

hello i was wondering what i can give my mbu puffer to relieve constipation!! i know you can give epsom salts dut not sure of dosage?? my tank is 800lts.
he has a habit of swallowing mussells in there shells whole!
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by J-P »

800L = 211 US gallons ...

kind of small for a MBU

I am sure you will get an epsom salt ratio soon :)
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by J-P »

Nick wrote:The only cure I know of is a Mbu puffer with a complete 1,200 US gallon setup. This is VERY uncommon, however: realize, that typically, you will progress to own many puffers of the fresh and brackish waters, then, realizing one or more of your brackish puffers thrive equally well or better at full marine, take the salt water plunge. At that point, you are beyond help, and will likely be keeping at least one puffer for the rest of your life. Unfortunately there is not treatment for this condition, however, many manage to lead rich and fulfilling lives WITH a puffer addiction, so all hope is NOT lost.
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Nick »

For constipation, 1 tbsp Epsom salt/10g (FW) or 5g (BW).
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matt willis
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by matt willis »

please note !! i know this is a bit small at the minute but it is a holding tank until my new tank is built into my living room. im not being defensive but i would not take on something that i could not house properly!!
as it is i rescued it from a 500 lts tank that it had lived in for 9years so i think it is getting better treated
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by J-P »

congrats matt :D

MBU are beautiful and need special care :)

You'll get any help you need from the forum here :D
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matt willis
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by matt willis »

thank you .
yes they are a beautiful fish and we are aware that they are a specialist fish which is why we thought about getting a mbu for 4years before we did. we also wanted to rescue and give it a better chance in life.ive kept fish for 20 years now and only had one problem with disease when i first started out.
when we rescued puff he had spent 9years in a 5x18x18 tank and he could not turn around for the last two years. he has a bent spine where he was cramped whilst trying to grow a he had only ever seen a cockle and nothing else.
we cannot wait to get his bigger tank built into our living room for him
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Pufferpunk »

Poor fella! Glad you're doing right by him. :)
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Dadof4 »

Sounds like he'll have an awesome home when all is said and done! We see so many people come here with the "my MBU is looking a little off ad he's not moving much. He's 10 inches and I have him in a 50 gallon tank and my water parameters are fine" stories that we jump on the tank size automatically. Glad he's getting a new home!
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Pufferpunk »

If he's really stunted & bent, then maybe all he'll need is a 500g.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
matt willis
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by matt willis »

how long does the epsom salts take to work?? i put them in this afternoon , how often do i dose with them?
he has not gone to toilet since thursday and hasnt eaten today
am i a over protective parent !!!!
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2 T biocellatus
C valentini
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C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Pufferpunk »

You dose 1x, it doesn't go anywhere, like meds. I'm not sure how long it takes, I've never needed to use it.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Dadof4 »

It can take a while 4-5 days for it to work. It's like any gentile laxative in humans, not an over night process. He should become a Super Pooper in a while.
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:59 pm
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giant gourami ,flowerhorn, giraffe catfish
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by matt willis »

thank you for replying and sorry if i caused offence writing in capital letters.
he is looking sorry for himself today and he still hasnt passed anything or eaten
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Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
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Re: constipated mbu!!

Post by Pufferpunk »

How much Epsom salt did you add?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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