MBU Puffer belly up

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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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Pufferpunk
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Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
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suvattii
burrfish
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Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
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Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

You never mentioned his size? Large puffers can go quite some time without food. I suggest soaking his foods in the meds & add garlic for taste & appetite enhancement.
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
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Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

He is 24 inches long. So quite a large guy and really heavy. I already tried the garlic and medication soaked food. He hated it...
His lump on his right side softened a bit. I think he can go a few more days without food. He is not the skinniest anyway.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

Does he like live earthworms? You can inject meds into them.
Also, recheck your water parameters. How large is his tank?
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

I am hesitant to feed him live things because of parasites. I usually freeze his food for several days at -50Fahrenheit or -45Celsius (reach sushi quality).
His quarantine tank is around 150 gallons. I have been doing 100% daily water changes for the last 5 days.

he is much better now. I will treat him 5 more days.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

YAY!
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

is it normal that his anus looks kind of red and sore after treatment for internal parasites? It looks a bit red from all the pooping and is slightly open. Other than that he is okay.
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

His anus is still open. Do I have to do something or is that part of the progress?

Edit: It is not over yet. Just rechecked his poop and there are still a few dead nematodes. Found three.. we are getting there.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

You can add 1 tbsp/10g Epsom salt for his swollen butt.
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

I found something weird in his poop today. Red nematods and some round creatures. All worms are dead and not moving. I found only one single moving round bacteria (?).
Maybe someone can help with ID?

Image
Image
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

Well... today will be probably a sad day..
he is not doing so well... and he is getting weaker and weaker..
He only breathes 5 times a minute..

4 days ago when I came home he had an cardiac arrest and was not breathing anymore.
I immediately started to massage his chest for an hour and put a tube connected to a small pump in his mouth to provide oxygen. I was able to revive him.

Today when I came home he had an cardiac arrest again but this time it does not seem to work.


this really makes me really sad. And I will probably never keep a puffer again :(
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

I think it is time... to say goodbye :(
Going to put him to sleep with some clove oil. So he does not have to suffer anymore.
I hope he is not angry because I could not save him.
He was a friend that brought so much joy.

Going to bury him with some of his favorite frozen snails and clams.
So he has some snacks on his way to heaven.
May he rest in peace.
:rip:
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

I'm so sorry... :( You really tried! I'm sure he'll be waiting for you in heaven.
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

I hope he is now in a better place. Not suffering anymore.
I just buried him wrapped in a white cloth with his snacks next to an old tree. Put a nice stone on his grave.

The tank is now so empty. I already miss him :(
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by Pufferpunk »

:sorry:
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!"
john132
Puffer Fry
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:04 pm
Location (country): Austria

Re: MBU Puffer belly up

Post by john132 »

thanks pufferpunk for all your help.

I just came across Filbert's story. very sorry to hear.
Did you bury him too?
I guess saying goodbyes is just a natural part of the hobby.
I kept many different fish but his passing hit me the hardest. Puffers can show emotions quite well and they recognize you. It is like a family member.
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