Porcupine fish, going blind after eating frozen shrimp

[Iliveinazoo]

Shrimp and mussels contain thiaminase which breaks down the thiamin in the food and hence cause a vitamin B1 deficiency. It is conceivable that your puffer is suffering from vitamin B1 deficiency.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiamine

Edit: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/ ... minase.htm

[Nuclear_Glitter]

Oh no, I think the total blindness happened very quick, but I think the damage was done over a period of time. I think the only chance for recovery at this point would be to start feeding a much better diet and vitamins.

Search local reef clubs for better setup deals.

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Theresa Ulrich had a great article on cowfishes many years ago and she was the one that gave me great advice about cowfishes and boxfishes. Yes, talked to her directly years ago. She stated that adding carbon in the filters will help absorb the cowfishes toxins if or when released. And cowfishes and boxfishes have been known to release toxins into tanks and even a totally nuke the whole tank, killing all the fishes and the cowfish itself. I wish I could find that article online but still no luck. Even the website is gone.

Btw, the others are doing their job help giving the advice about the vitamins

[TheShield]

Shrimp and mussels contain thiaminase which breaks down the thiamin in the food and hence cause a vitamin B1 deficiency. It is conceivable that your puffer is suffering from vitamin B1 deficiency.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiamine

Edit: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/ ... minase.htm

That was an excellent reading, thanks for sharing.

Oh no, I think the total blindness happened very quick, but I think the damage was done over a period of time. I think the only chance for recovery at this point would be to start feeding a much better diet and vitamins.

Search local reef clubs for better setup deals.

It makes sense, poor nutrition over long period of time consisting in frozen food mostly, some level of No3 along with the shock created by the two shrimps meal sounds like a possible scenario.

Ordered today Vita-Chem, just found Selcon at a store near by, going to buy one tomorrow. Already started diet change although yesterday's meal of fresh scallop with garlic wasn't well received (regurgired most of it), today's attempt with clam and a new one (I forgot the name) was a failure (just chew no swallow). Reading that it may be wise not to feed anything for more days after such diet event. Puffer looks very well, not showing any signs of low energy level.

[TheShield]

Video of the puffer, it may give some clues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7PdB65NIKA
Eye closeup #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN2FbIQDSBc
Eye closeup #2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWFA9KaAp4c
Eye closeup #3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgKhgJKUS-Y

Found this: http://petcareeducation.com/fish/common ... -pet-fish/

It is possible to have 'Corneal edema'?

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

So you are refering to the cloudy like film over his eyes being something wrong with his eyes? Looks normal for a purcupine to me. Evevyone I ever owned had the same looking eyes.

[TheShield]

No, that is normal, every puffer I saw got it. I am refering to the more darker blue color with no blue gaze which is common in puffers, he lost it.

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

http://www.free-pet-wallpapers.com/Aqua ... -fish.html

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

He looks like he is getting around pretty good if you think he is blind. He would act totally different is he was blind.

[J-P]

seperate the box fish, up the water changes, and soak the foods in vitamin water (as you have been doing). Recovery always takes time. Damage is almost instant.

[TheShield]

I have moved the puffer with the cow into a small 100L Interpret aquarium along with some live rock. The sand in the main aquarium was too dirt I can't get to lower the No3. The plan is to empty it, clean existing sand by washing it using the water from the aquarium, fill the tank back with water, put the sand and the rock back. Allow a couple of days then move the fish back into it.

While they are into the smaller tank with no sand but some rock, I can treat the water easily using Myxazin. I will do a daily 30-50% water change until the main tank is ready. I got a recommendation to use an antibiotic, Metronidazole, has anyone used it with puffers?

Thanks.

[sgtmyers88]

STOP! Do not do a complete teardown! It will cause the tank to cycle and likely kill your fish when you put them back! Saltwater Aquariums need much more time to reestablish stable water conditions after such a massive cleaning!

[TheShield]

STOP! Do not do a complete teardown! It will cause the tank to cycle and likely kill your fish when you put them back! Saltwater Aquariums need much more time to reestablish stable water conditions after such a massive cleaning!

Could you please explain why this would happen?

To my knowledge, most of the bacteria lives in the sand and rock and not in the water column. Rising the sand and rock into the same water, then do full water change shouldn't kill all of the benefical bacteria. With no bilogical load, there shouldn't be any spike in ammonia levels.

Thanks.

[kcartwright856]

So now you put both of the fish that you need to separate into an even smaller tank, placing your sick puffer with a fish that will poison it if it becomes stressed, which quarantining tends to do?

You need to separate them and THEN decide how you want to treat your puffer.

[TheShield]

I know you want the best for my fish guys but could we please drop the idea of separating the fish, I have spoke with many people during the last day including vets, respectable owners of aquatic stores, medics and not even one sustained this theory. Never the less, if that was to happen, it won't induce blindness in puffer but rather kill it, considering its small size and small water volume where they live.

I would appreciate if someone has an opinion about the medicine I was reffering to, Myxazin and Metronidazole or any good antibacterial and/or antibiotic known to work well on puffers.

Thanks.