Yesterday morning I found my new baby puffer, Lord Puffington, (about 1 inch long) stuck to the intake on the Aquaclear in his tank (36g). Since he had never had a problem swimming near the intake before, I suspect he must have been fast asleep at the time, panicked and puffed, and a little bit of skin got stuck in between the cagey part at the bottom as he deflated. Anyway, I don't think he was stuck long because he wasn't exhausted when rescued, although he was obviously acting very scared and hiding after. I thought he was going to die soon because all his stomach looked so swollen. I covered the intake with pantyhose, put Melafix in the tank and hoped for the best when I went to work. Anyway, by this morning, he's looking much, much better with his swelling nearly all gone, and he is alert and active and has still has his appetite. Oddly, he is still able to swim right by the intake with absolutely no problems. His getting stuck really must have been a fluke.
However, he still has a tiny bit of his stomach that is swollen looking or sticking out. Is this a hernia or just swelling? Is there anything else I can do to speed up his healing? I fed him a tiny bit of shrimp this morning to keep his strength up. He gets fed every evening, except for yesterday when he was still somewhat swollen and seeming a little bit out of it. Should I be feeding him? I hope that didn't make it worse. Except for that hernia looking thing, he's pretty much back to normal.
Puffer seems to have hernia?
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.
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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: Puffer seems to have hernia?
Huh. That's odd. Can you post a picture?
I wouldn't stop feeding. I would say to feed as normal.
I wouldn't stop feeding. I would say to feed as normal.
"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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Re: Puffer seems to have hernia?
Epsom salt can help relieve swelling (1 tbsp/10g) & add Melafix for better healing.
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!"
-
marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:03 am
- My Puffers: 3 x GSP - Chunkypuff, Mishe Mishe, Lord Puffington (RIP Mr. Fattykins)
0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: Puffer seems to have hernia?
Thank you, PP. I've been using Melafix but didn't think of the epsom salt. I'll add some tonight when I get home.
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marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:03 am
- My Puffers: 3 x GSP - Chunkypuff, Mishe Mishe, Lord Puffington (RIP Mr. Fattykins)
0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: Puffer seems to have hernia?
I've added the epsom salt and took a few pictures in case it's something more serious...
Sorry so fuzzy. The last two pictures are of him swimming down, so you can see the bump on the left side. It's hard to see in the picture of his left side because my camera is crud.
Sorry so fuzzy. The last two pictures are of him swimming down, so you can see the bump on the left side. It's hard to see in the picture of his left side because my camera is crud.
-
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: Puffer seems to have hernia?
Ouch!
"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!
-
marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:03 am
- My Puffers: 3 x GSP - Chunkypuff, Mishe Mishe, Lord Puffington (RIP Mr. Fattykins)
0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: Puffer seems to have hernia?
It was a hernia. We couldn't find him in the tank this morning (he's super tiny) so we went to work not knowing his status. We searched the tank when we got home and found his tiny body in a hole in a decoration. 
I hope these pictures can at least help someone diagnose their own puff... not that I would wish this on anyone's pet.
RIP Little Lord Puffington.
I hope these pictures can at least help someone diagnose their own puff... not that I would wish this on anyone's pet. RIP Little Lord Puffington.
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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: Puffer seems to have hernia?
Oh, that's awful. I'm sorry.
"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
- Posts: 32976
- 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: Puffer seems to have hernia?
My guess is he might have been ill before he got stuck. A healthy fish shouldn't get stuck to a properly screened intake tube.
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!"