Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
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.
- LilGreenPuffer
- Former Staff Member
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RIP Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizinni.
RIP James Bond. - Location (country): United States
- Location: Kentucky
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
If they don't have the blackworms, ask them to special-order. Lots of small stores are willing to do that. That's how I get mine.
"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!
- Bengoshi2000
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:39 am
- Location (country): NC - USA
- Location: NC - USA
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
Well, I had to put her down. Went to the tank jut now and Dr. Neville (in an ironic twist on his namesake) was nibbling on her. I decided then she must be dead, but when I netted her she puffed before I even got her out of the tank!? I immediately released her and Dr. Neville swam up and bit off one of her side fins. I decided then to euthanize her. I'm seriously bummed, but not surprised.

- xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
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Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
sorry to hear you had to euthanize her
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
- Bengoshi2000
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:39 am
- Location (country): NC - USA
- Location: NC - USA
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
In other news... I am happy to report that Dr. Neville ate his medicated worms again tonite and followed that with a nice, thick, dark poop! Never thought I'd be so happy to see a fish turd!
- JRC3
- Fahaka Puffer
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F8 (46g)
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Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
Aint that the truth.Bengoshi2000 wrote:...Never thought I'd be so happy to see a fish turd!
There are many knowledgeable fish keepers on this forum willing to help and give great advice...The advice is free; What you choose to do with it gives it value.
- 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: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One Is Emaciated!?
I'm surprised. DPs don't normally eat each other...Bengoshi2000 wrote:Well, I had to put her down. Went to the tank jut now and Dr. Neville (in an ironic twist on his namesake) was nibbling on her. I decided then she must be dead, but when I netted her she puffed before I even got her out of the tank!? I immediately released her and Dr. Neville swam up and bit off one of her side fins. I decided then to euthanize her. I'm seriously bummed, but not surprised.
"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!
- Bengoshi2000
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:39 am
- Location (country): NC - USA
- Location: NC - USA
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
UPDATE:
Dr. Neville is eating well 2x daily. He's picky about which bloodworms he will take... he will only eat the bright red ones. But he gets enough at each feeding to round out his belly. At each successive feeding, his belly seems less sunken in. I hope that is an actual observation and not my wishful thinking. His poops are spectacular. Nice dark turds just under 1/8 in. long. I may have found one poop yesterday that was stuck to a plant by a string but I don't really know if it was a poop, or a chunk of an uneaten bloodworm. I've seen nothing hanging out of his rear to make me think he has IPs.
My next question is whether I should re-treat him in two weeks or not. What say ye?
Dr. Neville is eating well 2x daily. He's picky about which bloodworms he will take... he will only eat the bright red ones. But he gets enough at each feeding to round out his belly. At each successive feeding, his belly seems less sunken in. I hope that is an actual observation and not my wishful thinking. His poops are spectacular. Nice dark turds just under 1/8 in. long. I may have found one poop yesterday that was stuck to a plant by a string but I don't really know if it was a poop, or a chunk of an uneaten bloodworm. I've seen nothing hanging out of his rear to make me think he has IPs.
My next question is whether I should re-treat him in two weeks or not. What say ye?
- xrayjeeper83
- Mbu Puffer
- Posts: 4167
- Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon - Location (country): USA
- Location: Orange Park, FL
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
If you think you have beaten the IP's you shouldnt have to retreat in a few weeks.
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
- Bengoshi2000
- Puffer Fry
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:39 am
- Location (country): NC - USA
- Location: NC - USA
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
Just when I thought all was well... stringy poop!?! Yesterday Dr. Neville's poops were fine... but I noticed a gossamer-like strand hanging out of his rear tonite at feeding time. Does this mean the ip's are back? Or is he passing them? Btw, he's eating like a horse 2x daily.
- inkmaker
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Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
Stringy feces is an indication of intestinal irritation usually due to some Nematode Parasite. Levamisole HCl is indicated as the best treatment.Bengoshi2000 wrote:Just when I thought all was well... stringy poop!?! Yesterday Dr. Neville's poops were fine... but I noticed a gossamer-like strand hanging out of his rear tonite at feeding time. Does this mean the ip's are back? Or is he passing them? Btw, he's eating like a horse 2x daily.
Charles H
Change As Much Water As Often As You Can
Charles Harrison in St Louis
Charles Harrison in St Louis
- J-P
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Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
that was a very quick judgement... I wonder if you can tell us what you know about nematodes in a separate thread 
I believe we are working on a diagnostic / treatment section and that type of information may prove to be valuable.
BTW welcome to the forum!
I believe we are working on a diagnostic / treatment section and that type of information may prove to be valuable.
BTW welcome to the forum!
if you follow me, you avoid stepping in the crap that I just did...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZR55G ... pqlgec1A2Q
- inkmaker
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Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
Okay,J-P wrote:that was a very quick judgement... I wonder if you can tell us what you know about nematodes in a separate thread
I believe we are working on a diagnostic / treatment section and that type of information may prove to be valuable.
BTW welcome to the forum!
Where would you like me to go with this?
Charles Harrison
Change As Much Water As Often As You Can
Charles Harrison in St Louis
Charles Harrison in St Louis
- Bengoshi2000
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:39 am
- Location (country): NC - USA
- Location: NC - USA
Re: Urgent - Just got DPs in the Mail - One has IPs!
I ordered my Levamisole HCI from C. Harrison.J-P wrote:that was a very quick judgement... I wonder if you can tell us what you know about nematodes in a separate thread
I believe we are working on a diagnostic / treatment section and that type of information may prove to be valuable.
BTW welcome to the forum!
http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html
Seems to know his stuff!