New to puffers, and got one deformed:(

[Magnus]

So I finally got myself some T.Fluviatilis. (2 of them)
So far they live in freshwater as they did that at my LFS, I am going to drip-acclimate them in to brackish asap.
With them I have 5 tiger barbs as i read that these two goes well togheter, and the barbs can be converted to brackish without any problems.

But when I arrived home and looked little closer I see that one of them is a bit deformed just behind the belly, and also the skin wasnt just as smooth as on the other one (that looks just perfect btw) they are both eating with good apetite when I gave them frozen red mosquito larva.

So what to do?
Can this deformation grow away or is it most likely that the fish are in pain,
What should I do. (just dont say that I should put him to rest, because that I cant do)
Other than that he looks healthy and swims around normally (they both do btw, but the one that is "normal" is a little shy:))

Please advise.

On the photo he is a little dark at his belly, but this photo was taken right after I put him in the tank. (he is now much brighter)
I Acclimated them as I should and the tank is cycled, I also put some nutrafin to support them

[Nick]

You have T. Nigroviridis, not T. Fluvitatilis, and tiger barbs will die in the conditions needed for these puffers. Even when young they do best in at least 1/4 seawater. I doubt the deformity is causing pain, it just looks like he is very skinny and needs to gain weight. Examine this:
ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Nigroviridis/
For the proper care information for these types of puffers - good luck with them.

[Pufferpunk]

Your puffer is starved, not deformed. With proper feeding & treatment for internal parasites, the "deformity" will go away. If not taken care of ASAP, he doesn't have a chance--he looks really bad.

Read the GSP article, feeding articles & article on treating internal parasites, in our Library.

[Magnus]

Thanks for your answers. so the species sign at the LFS was wrong "again"...
But when I compare the two species I clearly see the difference.

So I will remove the barbs back to their FW tank.
and slowly raise the salinity to abot 1.015. have to get me one of those Refractometers
I fed them frozen red mosquito larva that they seem to like, they ate until they looked like meatballs:) , is this not good food for them?
I also have some Physa sp, and rams horn that I give them.

What should I give for internal parasites? and can I treat him for this in the same tank as the other?

[Magnus]

So I went back to my LFS and told them about the problem, he gave me a bottle of tetra medica general tonic. can I treat them with this?

http://uk.tetra.de/tetra/go/BCE17AF27E9 ... lang_id=20

[t1gerbee]

just start feeding them the snails, cockles, mussle meat, shrimp.. things like that..

they'll fatten up in no time. Keep your parameters perfect, and possibly look at melafix for any bacterial issues..

puffers do not respond well to most medications, so beware of using them.

leave the SG at 1.002 for the time being, then raise it at 0.002 a week, no faster or you will crash your tank as the bacteria will die off..

good luck

[Pufferpunk]

If he remains skinny even with a good diet, treat according to the IP article. Don't use anything recommended by a LFS that doesn't even know what fish they're selling.

[Magnus]

I got another cure for him that I got from another lfs. added it yesterday, and today he kept the food much longer than before, I have feed them with the red mosquito larva, frozen artemia, snails and some red cherry shrimps.

But he almost scared me to death today, when i was given them some food the poor guy jumped out of the aquarium and landed on the wood floor, I thought he died but quickly I put him back into the tank and he shows no signs of damage.

He didnt even puff, maby he was shocked?

[Pufferpunk]

What is the "cure" your LFS gave you? Are you soaking his food in it?

[Magnus]

No I mix it in the water, he said that is wasnt specific for internal parasites, but there would be a good chance that it could work on that to. anyway this shouldnt harm the fish even if it didnt cure him so thats why I decided to give it a test.

The product is eSHa 2000.
It is a 3 day cure and I am on the third day now (havent added it today yet)

Did I make a wrong decision to test this?
I have noticed that he keeps his food much longer now (not as long as the other one though)

[Pufferpunk]

You must treat IPs internally. Puffers are very sensitive to meds & the meds we tell you to use here are safe for them. The med you bought is for fungus, finrot & bacterial infections. As severe of a case as this puffer has, it is important he be treted with the correct med ASAP!

It is also helpful if you fill out your profile, so we know where you are located.

[CoreyK]

Yea, you really need to get a medication that you can soak his food in so you can treat the parasites internally. Things you add to the water will simply not work.

Personally I'd do at least a water change to get rid of some of those chemicals in the water

[Pufferpunk]

Yes & run fresh carbon too.

[Magnus]

Just wanted to make an update.

He is now fully recovered, and look healthy as ever:)

As I started raise the salinity he got better an better, also regular feeding did the trick.

[nmonks]

While Jeni may have a point with the medications sold in the US, I have used eSHa 2000 (and eSHa EXIT) many times on puffers and other sensitive fish. Top retailers use the stuff with their stock, including fish costing hundreds of pounds. For whatever reason, both eSHa products are very safe and reliable.

Do always remember to remove carbon when using medications that are added to the water. Carbon removes organic dyes, formalin, and the various other chemicals used in most medications sold in Europe. (The antibiotics used in the US are different, and may or may not be affected by carbon; check with the manufacturer.)

Cheers, Neale

You must treat IPs internally. Puffers are very sensitive to meds & the meds we tell you to use here are safe for them.