The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

I have four PP in a heavily planted Fluval Spec V. I haven’t had any issues for two and a half months, since the puffers were introduced. The water is cycled weekly and gets a monthly dose of nitrifying boost. I also provide a plant boost from my local aquarium store.

The puffers are fed frozen bloodworms every other day. Just this past weekend, one puffer was hiding in the weeds and did not come out to eat. Not unusual, so I walked away. Now, the past few days, I’ve noticed that he is staying in the weeds, curling under a lily pad and just hanging out. I thought I would let him pass in peace and remove him. I went to do that yesterday and he put up quite a fight.

Now, as I watch him, he doesn’t seem to have problems breathing, just swimming. He appears to always be floating to the surface and when he does attempt to swim, it’s darting towards the bottom.

Any thoughts or is it too late for him?

What do you mean: "The water is cycled weekly and gets a monthly dose of nitrifying boost."?
library/hospital/help-my-puffer-is-air-filled/

https://fritzaquatics.com/products/frit ... freshwater

This is the monthly boost I give it.

I see the link how to burp the puffer, I’m supposed to squeeze this little fishes stomach? I’m not comfortable doing that

If your tank is cycled, there is absolutely NO reason to keep adding more bacteria.

You can also try netting the puffer & holding it head up (underwater) & shake it by its tail until it burps out the air.

I’m trying that, he’s squirming, but isn’t letting out any air.

Can you gently press on his lil belly?

I’ve pressed his belly some, but he doesn’t appear to be changing. He seems drawn to it though

Drawn to what?

Still no change. He seems drawn to the contact, maybe I’m being naive.

There’s no change, he’s still alert, floating around the top of the tank and can only make jerky, swimming attempts to the bottom and comes back up. The flow of the filter pushes him in the plants and he hangs up there. I let him stay in the plants because I feel like at least there he’s comfortable.

They didn’t eat yesterday, but now I’ve noticed a bump in between his stomach and tail. The bump is on his right side if you stand behind him and it seems to be the side that’s keeping him afloat. I hate to have to put him down as his eyes are still very alert, I just don’t know what else I can do.

Maybe he's constipated? Try adding 1 tbsp Epsom salt/10g.

To the whole tank or pull him out in a bowl and do it?

Whole tank

Still not much of a change. I pulled him out of the plants and got him in a net away from the heavy flow of water from the filter. He did burp out some air when I moved him, so I took it as a good sign.

I tried to feed him by hand, but he didn’t take any. He’s just been laying on this leaf, still breathing, eyes still moving around.

Do you think he's suffering?