Okay I got 6 dwarf puffers from the petstore. They came to me as pretty small babies. Anyway, besides that, when I first got them a few look like they got IPs so I treated the tank. My dosage was like this:
40 gallon tank, I used jungle fizz tabs you find commonly at your local fish stores. 4 tabs since each tab is for 10 gallons. I premix in water. 2 days later I did a 50% water change and dosed again. I'm on my second dose already.
Problem is, I have one dwarf puffer that seems to still have a sunken stomach while the other 5 look great, out of the 6 puffers, 2 to 3 looked like they had IPs when I first got them. I tried feeding them medicated foods but one nibble and they run for cover, I understand because I treat cough medicine like the plague. So I talked to a member and she said rub it with garlic to take out the bad taste. However, no more tabs since all 8 tabs have been used.
So, what should I do now? Wait a few days to see if that one puffer still has a sunken stomach or should I seperate him and treat him by himself?
I can maybe wait 5 days or so and try to medicate again, but should I dose the tank all over again or should I just medicate their food and feed them it instead? I also thought that I should dose the tank since the parasite might still be lurking in the water and also feed as well.
IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
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.
Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
well i heard u can use the Jungle Fizz and soak it in there food
but unless ur ammonia is really high i am guessing thats the problem since my friend is having this also
if it is u should use ammonia lock or do alot of water changes till ur ammonia is down
but unless ur ammonia is really high i am guessing thats the problem since my friend is having this also
if it is u should use ammonia lock or do alot of water changes till ur ammonia is down
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Ammonia Lock is not a good product to use. It starves the bacteria, which just makes things worse. Instead, you should use a product like Prime or Amquel, which detoxifies ammonia while leaving it for the bacteria to consume.
About the IPs - is the skinny one pooping white stringy stuff, or does it look normal?
About the IPs - is the skinny one pooping white stringy stuff, or does it look 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."
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NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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Come and visit http://www.thetriopsforum.com!
I AM A DUDETTE!
NEED NITRIFYING BACTERIA FOR YOUR NEW TANK? PM ME!
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marksrush
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
It's a sad fact that treating for IPs is not always successful. In some cases, the parasites have done so much damage that even once they're dead, the poor fish's intestines are so damaged that it's unable to recover. This could be the case with your one fish.
Another possibility is that your skinny puffer just needs a week of really good meals. I'm sure I've read on this site that it's OK to overfeed your puffers after treating for IPs, so I'd take this approach rather than trying to medicate again. However, as the instructions say, you can dose for up to three total times if you think you need to.
Ideally, you treat both their food and the water they're in. As you've noticed, sometimes they don't accept the treated food, but it's still good to try it. I've had good luck soaking freeze dried krill in a concentrated solution of anti-parasite meds for several hours and feeding them to the puffers I'm treating.
Another possibility is that your skinny puffer just needs a week of really good meals. I'm sure I've read on this site that it's OK to overfeed your puffers after treating for IPs, so I'd take this approach rather than trying to medicate again. However, as the instructions say, you can dose for up to three total times if you think you need to.
Ideally, you treat both their food and the water they're in. As you've noticed, sometimes they don't accept the treated food, but it's still good to try it. I've had good luck soaking freeze dried krill in a concentrated solution of anti-parasite meds for several hours and feeding them to the puffers I'm treating.
Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
SharkBait wrote:well i heard u can use the Jungle Fizz and soak it in there food
but unless ur ammonia is really high i am guessing thats the problem since my friend is having this also
if it is u should use ammonia lock or do alot of water changes till ur ammonia is down
I'm a bit confused why you brought up ammonia?
I'm not sure since I don't follow him around waiting for him to take a dump, but I'll try to seperate him into a container and examine.LilGreenPuffer wrote:About the IPs - is the skinny one pooping white stringy stuff, or does it look normal?
So, I guess I should wait 5 days and do the treatment all over? I'm gonna seperate that one fish and see. So if his poop isn't white and stringy that means he doesn't have IPs?
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Me, too. I don't think that this is an issue. I don't think you need to be worried about it.Natty wrote:I'm a bit confused why you brought up ammonia?SharkBait wrote:well i heard u can use the Jungle Fizz and soak it in there food
but unless ur ammonia is really high i am guessing thats the problem since my friend is having this also
if it is u should use ammonia lock or do alot of water changes till ur ammonia is down
"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!
Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
well if u have High ammonia sometimes it stops the fish from eatting
Edit"since this happen to me before+
Edit"since this happen to me before+
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Actually, the reason these guys aren't eating is that the food has been medicated, which doesn't taste good.
Natty, if his poop is not white and stringy, then he probably doesn't have IPs anymore.
Natty, if his poop is not white and stringy, then he probably doesn't have IPs anymore.
"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!
Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Okay, but if it does should I medicate the whole tank all over again and try feeding them medicated food or should I just seperate that one puffer and medicate him?
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Pufferpunk
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
If it truly is IPs you need to treat all the inhabitants. Have you read the article on this in the Library?
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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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
His poop that I checked today were black. Do they have to look both stringy and white? His poop sorta looks like warped potatoes, is that cool? I think thats normal right? He still has a skinny stomach so I'm gonna go buy more meds and start feeding frozen bloodworms dipped in garlic and meds just for the heck of it.
Update
I just found one dead. It was one of the fat ones too......no reason why. Can dwarf puffers die from overeating?
Update
I just found one dead. It was one of the fat ones too......no reason why. Can dwarf puffers die from overeating?
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LilGreenPuffer
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Well, yeah, they can literally burst themselves open, but my guess is that there was something else going on. Did you check water parameters? Poor guy, sorry about that. 
Warped potatoes are fine. Your skinny guy probably just needs to get fattened up.
Warped potatoes are fine. Your skinny guy probably just needs to get fattened up.
"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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Dadof4
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Re: IP Internal Parasite Problem and Question
Markrush is correct about the treatment. You will need to treat the tank and the fish themselves with soaked food. The white stingy poop is a later sign of infestation, the IP's are robbing every bit of nutrient from the food the puffer is able to take in and the puffers body is trying to extract as much as it can from what is in the digestive tract. The dark poop isn't necessarily a sign of being in the clear, just that the infestation hasn't started robbing the body yet. The one that dies very well could have been a successful treatment but the IP's just decayed in the intestines and poisoned the fish. When I treat for IP's I add Epsom salt, 1 tbsp Epsom salt/5gallon, to the water to help expel the parasites.Natty wrote:His poop that I checked today were black. Do they have to look both stringy and white? His poop sorta looks like warped potatoes, is that cool? I think thats normal right? He still has a skinny stomach so I'm gonna go buy more meds and start feeding frozen bloodworms dipped in garlic and meds just for the heck of it.
Update
I just found one dead. It was one of the fat ones too......no reason why. Can dwarf puffers die from overeating?
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