DP with suspiciously big belly

[Mareva]

One of my little guy has grown a big belly in a short time. He looks like he just ate, but all the time! Never goes back to his normal size. I see he still poops, but it's thinner than usual. here's a little chronology of events:
Nov 1, 2 and 3 IP treatment with Gel-Tek
This is my little guy looking normal (the bottom one). (He does have a more oval shape than the other 2, but now he looks like he's going to sink because he's too heavy!)



On the 5th he started getting bigger and stopped yesterday. He has shown very little interest in food since nov 6th. This is him today (6 days after the first picture):



The pictures don't look so different, but he is in reality! And it worries me he won't eat... Out of the 3 he's the only one behaving like that. He's had a few ich spots which are gone now (ich treatment with aquarium salt still going on).

Any ideas?

[dumpythepuffer]

he could be bloated.
ive never experianced it with puffers i have with other fish though. they iqunor their food when they are bloated. really lazy and not the fastest swimmers...is that the same with your guy?

[Mareva]

souns like it. He does chase the others a little, but not as much as he used to. What should I do?

[dumpythepuffer]

if it is bloating you can add some epsom salt to the tank. that should cure it

[Mareva]

even if there's aquarium salt already?
Where do I get epsom salt?

[dumpythepuffer]

why is there aquarium salt in there?
when you do water changes it will take out some of that aquarium salt. it shouldnt hurt them if theres both yet i'd do a good water change before adding it

[Mareva]

aquarium salt to treat ich.
I'll get some epson salt (drugstore or lfs?).

[dumpythepuffer]

if you also raise the temprature in your tank that will help with the ich. raise it real slow though

[Hilly]

aquarium salt to treat ich.
I'll get some epson salt (drugstore or lfs?).

Drugstore.

Does the puffer still swim alright, doesnt fall over or float?
Suppose if it's a female there could be a possibility it's pregnant.

[Mareva]

still swims straight. He's just a little slower than usual and won't guard his terrirory as much (he actualy tolerates one of the other puffer, which he didn't before). He seems more nervous too, really scared of me. He was shy before, but now it's worst. It's a little male I think, he's got 1 wrinkle behind each eyes, but he's still young.

Isn't epsom salt fo constipation? Because I saw him poop yesterday. It was thinner than usual though and his belly didn't get smaller after...

[manutius]

I would still treat for constipation as the off-normal feaces is a sign of a poor digestive tract. Treating for a few days should be fine. The other possibilty is that its beating the others to the food and gorging itslef, have you noticed this?

[Mareva]

He showed no interest in food for the last 3 days.
Right now he seems a little bit less bloated and he's hunting for food... I'll try the epsom salt anyways as he is not back to hs normal self.
Technical question: since there's already aquarium salt in the tank, should I do a water change to reduce the salinity before I add epsom salt? And what's the posology for epsom salt?
Thanks you guys!

[dumpythepuffer]

i know you add 1tbsp for every 5g...me being the parinoid person i am id do a water change before adding the epsom salt. just because they are a scaless fish

[Mareva]

ok, I started treatment with epsom salt this morning.
When treating for a few days, does that mean WC after a few days or adding more salt every day for a few days? (I'm guessing WC after a few days, just want to make sure!).
After about 8 hours my little guy seems less swollen, but not back to normal. I haven't witness him poop... I was expecting it to do that quickly as the pharmacist said : "epsom salt is a violent laxative"! lol I guess it has to take a little while. I tried to feed them, but he didn't show much interest...
Will keep you guys updated!

[Mareva]

Just came back from diner with friends and things don't seem to be going too well with my little guy. The other 2 puffers are sleeping, but Fidji (the bloated one) is swiming around making quick moves and swiming a little on his side. He looks less swollen, but his behaving is far from normal, I've never seen him swim like that and he should be asleep by now... I hope he looks better in the morning, I'm getting worried...