Just wanted to let everyone know that Elvis has passed away on 9/11/11. On 9/5/11 I discovered a lump on his side and he would not eat. This was very unusual for him. On 9/9/11 I was leaving for a three day weekend trip,I tried again to feed him with no luck. I noticed the lump had grown in size. On 9/11 when I returned home the lump had more than doubled, he was floating on his side and his color was gone. At that time he had shallow breathing and no color. He tried to swim towards me and my heart broke. My tank does not have room for him to puff air. I knew this was not the problem. I put my hand in the tank and felt the lump. My worst fear was revealed, it was hard as a rock and it did not move. I've had Elvis for years and I loved him very much. I couldn't stand to see him suffering. When he looked at me with those big eyes I started to cry. I took out a bucket and mixed up some finquel. I then took Elvis out of the tank and held him upright until he passed. He was between 13"-14" from nose to tail. He can't and won't be replaced. I will never get another Stars and Stripes puffer. He was my world. I still have Annabelle (Fahaka puffer) who also misses Elvis very much. They could see each other from their tanks. Annabelle would tap the glass with her teeth and Elvis would swim over then they would just float and stare at each other for hours. The night he passed Annabelle called him for almost an hour. Elvis never came. It was the saddest thing I ever seen. I tore down his tank and currently making it a fw tank to put Annabelle in. Hopefully a change in scenery will do us both some good. I always said if I ever loose Elvis there would be no more saltwater fish for me. I'm going to stick with freshwater for now. In a few years I might change my mind but I don't see a stars and stripes in my future. Elvis was a true entertainer, his name fit his personality. Everyone that has ever met him in person has fallen instantly in love with him. He was a huge part of our family. R.I.P my darling Elvis, I will always love you and you will never be forgotten.
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
Charles Darwin
My Puffers: 1x GSP (Bolla), 1x m. something. Bought as a leiurus, maybe a turgidus (Tiger), 1x c. irrubesco (Tott(a) aka Houdini) 1x c. salivator (Jack the Ripper), 1x m. cochinchinensis (Hufflepuff - R.I.P.), 2x c. lorteti (Tommy and Tigern = Calvin and Hubbes), 1x m. suvatti (Koseklumpen), 1x m. palembangensis (Dragonfly), 2x t. biocellatus (Koken and Fiken).
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
I'm so sorry to hear this! My condolences, I lost my first puffer the other week, I can't imagine going through the same thing with a fish I've had for years, not to mention it being 12 in long. Best wishes with Annabel, I read your story in the Library. Your a good caregiver and you and elvis didn't deserve this!
Terribly sorry for you loss. Their exquisite personalities always make losing a puffer like losing a friend.
Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. - G. K. Chesterton
Just wanted to let everyone know that Elvis has passed away on 9/11/11. On 9/5/11 I discovered a lump on his side and he would not eat. This was very unusual for him. On 9/9/11 I was leaving for a three day weekend trip,I tried again to feed him with no luck. I noticed the lump had grown in size. On 9/11 when I returned home the lump had more than doubled, he was floating on his side and his color was gone. At that time he had shallow breathing and no color. He tried to swim towards me and my heart broke. My tank does not have room for him to puff air. I knew this was not the problem. I put my hand in the tank and felt the lump. My worst fear was revealed, it was hard as a rock and it did not move. I've had Elvis for years and I loved him very much. I couldn't stand to see him suffering. When he looked at me with those big eyes I started to cry. I took out a bucket and mixed up some finquel. I then took Elvis out of the tank and held him upright until he passed. He was between 13"-14" from nose to tail. He can't and won't be replaced. I will never get another Stars and Stripes puffer. He was my world. I still have Annabelle (Fahaka puffer) who also misses Elvis very much. They could see each other from their tanks. Annabelle would tap the glass with her teeth and Elvis would swim over then they would just float and stare at each other for hours. The night he passed Annabelle called him for almost an hour. Elvis never came. It was the saddest thing I ever seen. 
I am so sorry for your loss! 
He will be missed by many here on TPF.
Sorry for your loss. 
