Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

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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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chrisc1987
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:14 pm
Location (country): United Kingdom

Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by chrisc1987 »

Hi I have 2 Dwarf puffers I currently have an issue with just one of them. He doesn't seem have to been eating for the last couple of days and his mouth does not look right. It seems to be open all the time and is unable to close it. Could there be something stuck in it's mouth?

I have tried to attach pictures but keep get file too large error. So please see link for pictures.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BoN6KzjPADUTe9OJ2

The other dwarf puffer in the tank is perfectly fine with no issues or anything like this.

The tank has been up and running for nearly two years with no previous issue. Nothing has changed I last week. Tank is has once a week a 30% water changes.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can give.
Regards
Chris
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Pufferpunk
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Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
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Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
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Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
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Re: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by Pufferpunk »

His mouth looks infected. Why do you think there might be something stuck in there? What are you feeding them?
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!"
chrisc1987
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:14 pm
Location (country): United Kingdom

Re: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by chrisc1987 »

Thank you, if infected what do you suggest would be best medicine to use?

And only said about something being stuck as an option as I have no idea what is wrong. For information i am feeding them frozen blood-worm small ones.
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: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by Pufferpunk »

I would add 1 tbsp/10g table salt & Melafix.
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!"
chrisc1987
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:14 pm
Location (country): United Kingdom

Re: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by chrisc1987 »

Hi, thanks for that. I am now dosing Melafix and have added in the salt. Was just wanting to check should i be dosing the salt every day with the Melafix or is that just a one time dose?
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: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by Pufferpunk »

No, don't add more then 1 tbsp salt/10g. When you do your weekly WC, replace the salt you removed, if still needed.
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!"
chrisc1987
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:14 pm
Location (country): United Kingdom

Re: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by chrisc1987 »

Thank you was just checking So why do i add the salt? What does it do?

And hopefully all this will help him and will get better
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: Dwarf Puffer Mouth Problem

Post by Pufferpunk »

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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