The Puffer Forum

Hey guys I'm new to this forum, I have a 5 inch Mbu puffer that I got from LFS about a month ago. He is very picky but eating fine on shrimp, clams, mussels and snails. I have 2 problems that I need help with. Mbu puffer experts please help!
1) Water parameters all normal
2) 40Gal Quarantine, 100G main tank with plecos, Danios and Guppies for cleanup.
3) 25% water change everyday sucking up all the stringy poop.
4) 2 months.

First, I don't know how Mbu puffer poop should look like but I have a lot of experience with cichlids. His poop looks white stringy and beady. I believe he has internal parasites as it is common from wild caught fish. He is not skinny at all though. I have been treating him with API general cure mixed in his food with garlic juice and Epsom salt for 2 weeks now. The picture I attached is his poop after eating shrimps with medication from a few hours ago. I don't know if his poop is normal, I just don't want to be treating him unnecessarily.

https://ibb.co/8zvsyrd

Second problem is his tail fin. He has a split in the middle since I got him, I thought it would heal but hasn't healed at all over a month. I believe it might be a defect or he was injured by other tank mates. I think the split might be permanent since it looks like the cartilage is damaged. What I'm worried about is that it is not fin rot right?

https://ibb.co/0yTtqvj

Any help is appreciated thanks!

It is possibly IPs--wouldn't hurt to treat. API General Cure looks to be more for external parasites though. I'd go with Metro or Prazi.
library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

As far as the tail, it does look like it had been damaged. It may or may not heal back to a single tail. You could try Melafix for that.

Some extra reading on mbus:
library/puffers-in-focus/mbuforyou/
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=150

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Fri Nov 30, 2018 7:00 pm
It is possibly IPs--wouldn't hurt to treat. API General Cure looks to be more for external parasites though. I'd go with Metro or Prazi.
library/hospital/internal-parasites-pre ... treatment/

As far as the tail, it does look like it had been damaged. It may or may not heal back to a single tail. You could try Melafix for that.

Some extra reading on mbus:
library/puffers-in-focus/mbuforyou/
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=150

Thank you pufferpunk, I have tried Seachem Metroplex for a week and it does not seem to work. My puffer hates food that has been soaked in Prazipro which I also tried. Since Metroplex contains Metronidazole and Prazipro contains Praziquantel. API General Cure contains both Metronidazole and Praziquantel which I thought would be a good idea. I also ordered Levamisole HCl to give it a try and should be coming in the mail in a few days.

Add a crushed garlic clove to the med soaks. It enhances the flavor for some reason.

Pufferpunk wrote: ↑Fri Nov 30, 2018 11:18 pm Add a crushed garlic clove to the med soaks. It enhances the flavor for some reason.

I tried with Garlic with Prazipro, he just spits it back out. Just to confirm, the poop is not normal right?

Thanks Pufferpunk!

It does look awfully stringy but their poop often looks like their food, especially if overfed. You feed a lot of white, meaty foods.

Update: this is how his poop looks like after treating with Metronidazole and Praziquantel mixed in a piece of shrimp with Espom salt, Seachem Focus and Garlic juice.

https://ibb.co/5B43dyV

Looks like the food you're feeding him. How's his weight?

he is not skinny at all, eating well on shrimps, clams, live crabs, live snails and live shrimp. his poop looks fine when he eats crabs. Black poop which looks more normal I guess.

Trying to avoid live food unless I'm not home for a few days and I put a bunch of them in the tank.

Should I stop treating and resume if he gets skinny or refusing food?

I think so, yes. I've rarely determined IPs from poop & to me, it looks like the white, meaty foods he's eating.

update: he's healthy and no more stringy poop! when he eats shrimps, the poop tends to be a bit stringy and white. when he eats clams and snails, his poop looks normal(black little drops)!