Strange Mbu Ailment
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
hilltopperpete
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:25 pm
Strange Mbu Ailment
Just shipped in, so water parameters/feeding/tankmates aren't really relevant. Looks a bit like a distended rectum-- if you don't already know what that is, don't google it. You'll vomit. Basically, it looks like pink tissue has been pushed out of the puffer's rectum-- sorry about the fuzzy pictures. Anyone had this experience with puffers? It's in a quarantine tank now, just for safekeeping, but I'd like to get some feedback just in case.
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150g: 5 archerfish, 1 ornate bichir, 1 yoyo botia, 5 farlowellas, 1 fire eel, 1 silver arowana, 3 leopard bush fish, 1 green scat, 2 baby mbu puffers
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
- Christemo
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- Contact:
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
Internal parasites maybe?

Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
- yunachin
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Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
It seems he has a prolapsed anus which can be caused by large feedings, improper diet and bacterial infection. If you can get Gel Tek Ultra Cure PX, try it.
Stay on top of water changes and get some vitamins into him as well. Worse comes to worse you may have to treat with Tetracyline.
Stay on top of water changes and get some vitamins into him as well. Worse comes to worse you may have to treat with Tetracyline.
E.Ridgeway
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Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
There's a great thread here by edmlfc1, about her fahaka puffer with anal worms. There are great shots of it's anus with the worms sticking out. You might want to look into that.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
- 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: Strange Mbu Ailment
Here's my post that have the pictures of the worms.
Scroll down to see if this is the same thing your mbu has.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15849&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=315
Scroll down to see if this is the same thing your mbu has.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15849&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=315
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/
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/
-
hilltopperpete
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:25 pm
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
yunachin wrote:It seems he has a prolapsed anus which can be caused by large feedings, improper diet and bacterial infection. If you can get Gel Tek Ultra Cure PX, try it.
Stay on top of water changes and get some vitamins into him as well. Worse comes to worse you may have to treat with Tetracyline.
One of my LFS's has Ultra Cure PX, so I'll pick it up today. I pulled something that looked white/stringy, about .75 cm long (~1/4"), from the anus. Wasn't moving, but it was probably a worm. The Ultra Cure PX apparently cures internal parasites as well, so whatever the case, my new puffer will be taken care of!
Thanks for the help!
By the way...
I got two of them! They're starting in a 4x2x2.5 tank, and will enjoy a 300-500 gallon in a year when my wife and I get a house! If they don't get along (they lived together in the supplier's tank for about 5 months), I'll sell one.
150g: 5 archerfish, 1 ornate bichir, 1 yoyo botia, 5 farlowellas, 1 fire eel, 1 silver arowana, 3 leopard bush fish, 1 green scat, 2 baby mbu puffers
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
- 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: Strange Mbu Ailment
If your puffer has camallanus worms the ultra cure px won't help it. Please look at the pictures in the link I posted above. Also do not use any equipment from the qt in any other tanks you have. If you do you will need to treat all your tanks. Make sure you wash your hands each time you put them in the tank. Humans can also get these worms. They are very nasty worms and need to be treated correctly to get rid of them. The treatment can be harsh but it works. Please don't try to remove them, it will harm the puffer.
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/
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/
-
hilltopperpete
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:25 pm
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
Great pictures! No, it does not look like camallanus worms, thankfully! I'm sorry you had such a terrible ordeal with them.edmlfc1 wrote:If your puffer has camallanus worms the ultra cure px won't help it. Please look at the pictures in the link I posted above. Also do not use any equipment from the qt in any other tanks you have. If you do you will need to treat all your tanks. Make sure you wash your hands each time you put them in the tank. Humans can also get these worms. They are very nasty worms and need to be treated correctly to get rid of them. The treatment can be harsh but it works. Please don't try to remove them, it will harm the puffer.
150g: 5 archerfish, 1 ornate bichir, 1 yoyo botia, 5 farlowellas, 1 fire eel, 1 silver arowana, 3 leopard bush fish, 1 green scat, 2 baby mbu puffers
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
- 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: Strange Mbu Ailment
Glad to hear that.
Annabelle has fully recovered. She is gaing weight and doing very well. I don't regreat a thing with it as long as our experience can help others.
Hope your little guy also has a speedy recovery.
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/
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/
- LilGreenPuffer
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Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
I don't have anything constructive to add, but I just wanted to say good luck!
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
- Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
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- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles - Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
- Location: Greenville, SC
- Contact:
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
You might want to eventually rethink the tank size for 2 of those monsters. Great info stickied in the Giant Puffer forum & a very good article in our Library on keeping mbus.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
hilltopperpete
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:25 pm
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
1000 gallons it is, then. Good to know, punky!Pufferpunk wrote:You might want to eventually rethink the tank size for 2 of those monsters. Great info stickied in the Giant Puffer forum & a very good article in our Library on keeping mbus.
150g: 5 archerfish, 1 ornate bichir, 1 yoyo botia, 5 farlowellas, 1 fire eel, 1 silver arowana, 3 leopard bush fish, 1 green scat, 2 baby mbu puffers
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
75g saltwater: fuzzy dwarf lion, panther grouper, who knows?
46g Brackish (turning into growout soon!): 1 mono, 1 brackish moray eel, 1 GSP, 1 dragon goby, 5 knight gobies, 4 black mollies, 4 sailfin mollies
18g quarantine: 3 baby thinbar dats
25g quarantine tub: 3 p. endlicheri, 2 yoyo botias, 1 red-lip botia, 2 sailfin mollies
- Christemo
- Suspended
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- Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:33 pm
- My Puffers: 1 GSP (RIP Puffy... we tried everything we could. :( )
2 Figure 8s (Cupcake and Sprinkles) - Location: Marlton, NJ//Emmitsburg, MD
- Contact:
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
It's 1,000 gallons for *one*. That translates into 2,000 gallons for two.hilltopperpete wrote:1000 gallons it is, then. Good to know, punky!Pufferpunk wrote:You might want to eventually rethink the tank size for 2 of those monsters. Great info stickied in the Giant Puffer forum & a very good article in our Library on keeping mbus.

Two F8's, two tiny fantails and a pleco call me mommy.
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Nick
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Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
I'm thinking it might not be unreasonable to fit two in only a bit over 1000 - I'd like to see what flashdan thinks would be good for a pair...
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
- LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 5301
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:26 pm
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Dwarf puffer - Thumbelina (only mine in my heart now; she lives in CT with my friend)
RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Strange Mbu Ailment
I was thinking that, too, since isn't it mostly a stunting worry, not so much the bioload?
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will she gain anything by it? Will it restore her to a control over her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to freedom for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
Found among the papers of Mohatma Gandhi

Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!