constipated figure 8

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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.
Post Reply
User avatar
Tang
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:28 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 2 Figure 8's
Location (country): Minnesota

constipated figure 8

Post by Tang »

one of my fig 8s stomach does not get smaller at all, it always looks like he has just been fed. Hes eating fine and acts normal, but his stomach is always big. ive netted him the last few feedings to see if his stomach goes small again, but it stays the same. should i try epsom salts to see if that helps?
User avatar
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: constipated figure 8

Post by xrayjeeper83 »

wouldnt hurt
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by bertie 83 »

Try not feeding for a couple of days as you may just be feeding well. Generally constipated puffers don't feed well
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Tang
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:28 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 2 Figure 8's
Location (country): Minnesota

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by Tang »

i havent fed him for 3 days now, ive put him in a net during feeding. but he still looks like he just ate
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by bertie 83 »

Does he still eat if given the chance?
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
User avatar
Tang
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:28 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 2 Figure 8's
Location (country): Minnesota

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by Tang »

yea he eats like a pig
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32975
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
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
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by Pufferpunk »

1 tbsp Epsom salt/5g for BW fish.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Tang
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 61
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:28 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 2 Figure 8's
Location (country): Minnesota

Re: constipated figure 8

Post by Tang »

alright thank you
Post Reply