My puffer may have internal parasites?
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.
-
Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
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- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
My puffer may have internal parasites?
I was talking to someone recently who might think my puffer fish has internal parasites when i told them that my puffer has bright red feces. anyone have any suggestions on that...or what kinds of medicine i should use?
Puffers are amazing!! 
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WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
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Nic
- Puffer Fry
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They share an apartment with a F8 puffer and 2 GSPs. - Location (country): USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Do you feed a lot of bloodworms? Red feces isn't indicative of IPs.
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LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
It can be. Some worms are red.
I fed my DPs an all-bloodworm diet for several months, and their feces remained dark brown.
I fed my DPs an all-bloodworm diet for several months, and their feces remained dark brown.
"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!
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Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
I feed mainly frozen brine shrimp, this new brine shrimp i bought is a lot more reder than the other frozen brine shrimp, and it smells better too! I do feed some freeze dried blood worms but i havnt fed it to them recently. Ive been feeding sun dried baby shrimp and soon i will be feeding some live brine shrimp...they are in the hatching process as we speak. I feed them snails too. And they each had 2 fresh water cherry shrimp. 1 each yesterday and 1 each the day before that.
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
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marksrush
- Fahaka Puffer
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- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: One GSP.
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Raymore, Missouri USA
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Switch to non-red foods for a while and see if that changes the color of their poo - it should be brown, like little logs. In other words, no brine shrimp, no dried baby shrimp, no bloodworms, no cherry shrimp, etc.
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Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
ok can i still give them some frozen mysis shrimp? thats about my only option because all i have is frozen brine, dried shrimp and blood worms. what else can i get?
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
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Dadof4
- Tech Team
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- My Puffers: 1 GSP (Microfiche) RIP, 1 Monotrete Turgidus (Leon) in a 30gal. 1 Monotrete suvattii in a 40 gal FW. 120 gallon BW with 3 juvenile Dragon Gobies (so cool). 55 gal with a 2" GSP named Hank. 180 gallon being set up for a Fahaka in the next few months!
- Location (country): United States
- Location: North Wisconsin
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Cut up some raw people people shrimp and feed that, shell and all. One big shrimp can last me a week for my GSP.
"Darwin swings...annnnnnd a miss. Boy Jim, Chuck's suffered at the plate tonight. He's 0 for 3 and I'm not sure he's recovered from that shoulder pull a few weeks ago. I'll bet the front office is re-thinking that contract."
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Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
wow thats a good idea i never thought of that. and its good because i think i have some and i dont even like shrimp so why not give it to my GSPs lol
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
-
marksrush
- Fahaka Puffer
- Posts: 856
- Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2008 8:10 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: One GSP.
- Location (country): USA
- Location: Raymore, Missouri USA
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Frozen mysis shrimp are great, as are black mussels, oysters (my puffers' favorite), clams, scallops, crab, snails, crayfish...almost any shellfish or mollusk will please them. Just make sure that they're raw. If you buy them fresh (and that's the only way you should buy oysters, mussels, or clams), freeze them for a week before you give them to your fish. It's easiest to just bash open the shell when you get home, scoop most of the meat out, and then put it in a small container and pop it in the freezer. Then later, when it's time to serve dinner, you take the frozen blob of oyster out, slice off an appropriately sized piece, thaw it either between your fingers or submerged in tank water, and then give it to your puff.
If you continue with brine shrimp, make sure that they're the fortified kind, not the kind that comes in the flat - otherwise, they're pretty much just junk food. Put a special emphasis on snails if you can; many puffer owners breed them so they can give them to their puffers often, since they're so important for keeping your puffer's teeth worn down. And don't forget vegetable matter! I give mine seaweed once a week and they love it.
If you continue with brine shrimp, make sure that they're the fortified kind, not the kind that comes in the flat - otherwise, they're pretty much just junk food. Put a special emphasis on snails if you can; many puffer owners breed them so they can give them to their puffers often, since they're so important for keeping your puffer's teeth worn down. And don't forget vegetable matter! I give mine seaweed once a week and they love it.
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coldmachineUK
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:20 pm
- My Puffers: 2x T. biocellatus
1x C. asellus - Location: Wirral, UK
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
+1! I agree with this entirely.marksrush wrote:Frozen mysis shrimp are great...If you continue with brine shrimp, make sure that they're the fortified kind, not the kind that comes in the flat - otherwise, they're pretty much just junk food
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36G: FW Planted | 53G: Brackish (F8 Puffers) | 58G: Freshwater Community (Unusual/Rare Loaches)
Interesting stock: S. mahnerti, S. vinciguerrae, S. sp. "crimson", V. maassi, N. masyai, M. guentheri, T. biocellatus, C. asellus.
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Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
I give them snails too i dont want and beaver teeth showing lol. I actually am trying to breed snails now. I have a lot in a little 1 gallon...the pet store gave me sooo many for free so thats always a plus! I didnt know, however, that they needed vegies so its a good thing you told me. Thanx! where do i get seaweed anyway?
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
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Pufferpunk
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Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Have you seen all the feeding articles in our Library?Mrs.Puff wrote:wow thats a good idea i never thought of that. and its good because i think i have some and i dont even like shrimp so why not give it to my GSPs lol
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...
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Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
no im just getting used to where everything is but i will look at it... thankyou!!
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
-
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: My puffer may have internal parasites?
The LFS forgot to order my live blackworms. Two weeks of brine shrimp, and my fish have lost weight. Next time, I'm calling to make sure the order goes through.coldmachineUK wrote:+1! I agree with this entirely.marksrush wrote:Frozen mysis shrimp are great...If you continue with brine shrimp, make sure that they're the fortified kind, not the kind that comes in the flat - otherwise, they're pretty much just junk food
"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!
-
Mrs.Puff
- Green Spotted Puffer
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:20 pm
- My Puffers: I have had my first puffer for about 2-3 weeks now and her name is Mrs. Puff, i just bought another puffer about 5 days ago and his name is Mr. Puff. They are awsome fish and they look great!! Mr. Puff is more curious and loves to see me. Mrs. Puff is very shy but im working with her so hopefully she will become more open.
- Location: ohio
Re: My puffer may have internal parasites?
Yea i dont ever see any blackworms for sale and any petshop. I might order some too
Puffers are amazing!!
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g
WELCOME! - 2 angelfish, and 1 upside down catfish
Piranha 29g
2 Oscars 75g
R.I.P: Mrs.Puff, Mr. Puff and, Jumbo
1 Betta 2g