Thank you to all of the Puffer Forum!

[fugu99]

Its a short story really, but I had an emergency not long ago today that scared the life out of me. It was concerning one of my two puffers, infact the newest one we got because the other jumped out of the tank a while back. Its my husbands puffer which would have been a double blow because hes trusting me to take care of him while he is out to sea. Also, I love this puffer! Well, I was just doing a water change. A big water change, the large water change I do once a week. In the process of refilling the tank I was moving back and forth to the kitchen to do some tests and mix some new salt. When I came back in the room I looked in the tank and at first thought one of the puffers was begging at the surface. He was floating there! I dropped what I was holding and scooped him into my hand in the water and my heart froze, he was stiff with his fins clamped to his sides, and not moving or breathing at all. Trying to remember any advice or think of anything that I could do, and perhaps because I just wanted to pet him and maybe he would come back to life, I turned him in my hand and with two hands massaged his belly. Almost instantly a lot of air came out. But he didnt move still. I had a sinking feeling and might have given up. But I kept massaging gently, even though no air was coming out anymore. But I noticed a slight movement of his mouth, so I kept going. It felt like I was doing this for a long time but it was maybe only a minute, but I saw his eye move a little and his mouth moved a little bit more. He started breathing weakly and then he curled his tail. I stroked him until he started acting normal, and started using his fins. Then he swam from my hand and for a short while lay on the bottom under his favorite log, moving his eyes around. I made sure to keep a close eye on him. Strangely, the other puffer didnt go through this... But anyway, after a few minutes he came out and started to swim around. My heart is still a little bit in my throat, and I keep looking over. But hes now swimming around like normal, even though hes showing me a grey belly. I gave him a small helping of bloodworms which is his favorite, and he ate although not right away. This was a scary experience for me, because I love my puffers, particularly Henry, and it would have been heartbreaking for both my husband and myself. I say thank you to everyone on this forum who may have given me advice or who gives other puffer owners good advice, because it saved my puffer today. I wouldnt have known what to do otherwise, and he would have really given up. I think back when he was stone-still, and it sends a shiver down my spine. I know my husband will be grateful too. Thank you everyone for educating me well.

[hadla]

wow, im glad hes ok! how did he get the air in him?

[fugu99]

Hi Hadla, I really dont know. As I said, I was out of the room. When I came back, he was floating there. I only tried to burp him as a last resort and its a good thing I did. Im assuming he panicked in the water and tried to jump and inhaled, and thats really the only thing I can think of.