Help! Not eating and thin!

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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

Hi, some of you may remember by DP Weebo. I got her last year and kept her in a 5g at first and then moved her to a 6.6g. I just moved her last week into my 55g with a divider, and she seemed to be very happy with her new home (she was spreading her back fin a lot which she doesn't normally do.)

However, for the past couple days she hasn't been eating. At first, I thought the filter was moving the freeze dried blood worms to fast so I turned it off during feeding. She still comes up to the surface and looks interested in the food, but she doesn't eat it!

She is also much more lethargic and has been lying on the gravel for past two days. Today she was lying on the rock structure and didn't respond to movement in front of the tank; she always has!

Today I noticed that she seems much thinner that last week and got scared. So I took her out and have her in a jar currently. I put some food in there but she only ate one piece that was about 3 mm long!

Parameters:

Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
Ammonia: 0-.25
pH: 7.6

Here are two pictures, one from a month ago and one from today. Notice that she is much thinner now. Also, her back seems to be bent in a zigzag.
Image

Image

HELP?!
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

She's no longer reacting to her red food container (although she always swims to the glass when she sees it.)

Could it be that she's old? I got her slightly over a year ago and she hasn't grown much since? Your PufferPedia says they live 5 years or longer. Could she already be that old?
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by edmlfc1 »

Have you ever treated her ip's?
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

I turned the filter off to see if it was the current that was making her weak. Right after I turned it off, she looked like she was coughing. Was she trying to puff up? Now she's lying on the rocks again...I don't know what to do!!! :(
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

edmlfc1 wrote:Have you ever treated her ip's?
You mean internal parasites? No, I didn't realize she had any...?
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by edmlfc1 »

There could be two things:
1) it could be ip's
2) her teeth

Have you ever fed her crunchy food to keep her teeth worn down? Does the teeth look overgrown?
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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side19
Green Spotted Puffer
Posts: 464
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:00 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1 Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus), Ra
1 South American Puffer (Colomesus asellus), Cocha(aka. Dizzy)
Location (country): United States
Location: Manchester, CT

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by side19 »

sudden decrease in weight could be a sign of parasites. is her stomach caved in at all?
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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

edmlfc1 wrote:There could be two things:
1) it could be ip's
2) her teeth

Have you ever fed her crunchy food to keep her teeth worn down? Does the teeth look overgrown?
I gave her ramshorns from the large tank for a while, but now that she's in the 55g, they're always there. I can't see her mouth now, but earlier today it looked the same as always. Is her mouth supposed to be slightly open? It always has been.
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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User avatar
Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

side19 wrote:sudden decrease in weight could be a sign of parasites. is her stomach caved in at all?
The second pic up top is what she looks like now. I've noticed that recently it looks like her stomach is always empty. I'm assuming that would mean it's caved in. :(
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
Top
User avatar
edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by edmlfc1 »

If it was overgrown teeth you wouldn't see anything but teeth. I would start treating her for ip's right away. Since she is not eating you will need to treat the entire tank. You could move her into a hospital tank and treat her in there. Get some prazipro and follow the directions. I don't know if she will make it or not, she looks really skinny. IP's will also cause a puffer to stop eating.
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

edmlfc1 wrote:If it was overgrown teeth you wouldn't see anything but teeth. I would start treating her for ip's right away. Since she is not eating you will need to treat the entire tank. You could move her into a hospital tank and treat her in there. Get some prazipro and follow the directions. I don't know if she will make it or not, she looks really skinny. IP's will also cause a puffer to stop eating.
Dangit! I just took down her tank yesterday...I guess I can set it up again though. If Petco or Petsmart don't have prazipro, then I think I'm doomed. Pets Inc. is closed already and those are the only stores near me. Do they have it?
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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User avatar
edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by edmlfc1 »

I got mine from petsmart before, try there first.
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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User avatar
edmlfc1
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 2011
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:03 pm
My Puffers: Elvis (Stars & Stripes) R.I.P. 9/11/11
125G:Fahaka (Annabelle)
Location (country): U.S.A.
Location: Texas

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by edmlfc1 »

Are you sure they are open today? On Easter Sunday?
Need to know what kind of puffer you have? Click on Puffer ID.....Puffer ID: ug.php/v/PufferPedia/
What to feed your puffer? Click on Feeding......
Feeding: library/feeding/feeding-your-puffers/
Have a GSP, need more information......Click on GSP Article.....
GSP Article: library/puffers-in-focus/an-introductio ... d-puffers/
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User avatar
Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

edmlfc1 wrote:Are you sure they are open today? On Easter Sunday?
You'd be surprised how many stores are open here. If I find their phone number, I'll call them and see if they're open and if they have it. But I don't think she'll last until tomorrow...she's not reacting to anything now. :(
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
Top
User avatar
Starlet
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:59 pm
My Puffers: 1 DP named Weebo
Location: Arizona

Re: Help! Not eating and thin!

Post by Starlet »

They're closing in the next half an hour. They don't have prazipro but they do have something from API. Would that work?
55g
2 GBRs - Bookchi (m), Unnamed (m)
6 Peppered Cories - Hobbes (f), Wasabi (m), 1 (m), 2 (m), 3 (?), 4 (?)
7 Zebra Danios
1 Otos - Sonja (f)
6.6g
1 Dwarf Puffer - Weebo (f)
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