Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
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.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Certainly have Melafix on hand. I've used Mercurochrome on wounds, too.
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Liliana
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
As I told Pufferpunk, a wound started appearing on my puffers tail where the worm was. It started to rot. I kept adding melaix, and this morning there was a chunk from him on the bottom of the tank. Fished it out, and this is what I found:
Puffer is still happy as ever, begging, swimming around his normal self. I can see he's in a little bit of pain from that wound though, but the melafix seems to be helping a ton.
What do you guys think? Do you think it was the worm? The bump has gone down, except there is still the wound there that I will keep treating.
Puffer is still happy as ever, begging, swimming around his normal self. I can see he's in a little bit of pain from that wound though, but the melafix seems to be helping a ton.
What do you guys think? Do you think it was the worm? The bump has gone down, except there is still the wound there that I will keep treating.
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Liliana
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- Location: Colorado
Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Update:
Wound size is about half this morning.I'm fairly certain this was the worm and the issue, but I would still like some opinions if anyone is familiar with this type of worm.
Wound size is about half this morning.I'm fairly certain this was the worm and the issue, but I would still like some opinions if anyone is familiar with this type of worm.
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sgtmyers88
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Glad things are looking up for you and your GSP. 
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
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Liliana
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:07 am
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- My Puffers: Two GSP in an 80 gallon tank
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Colorado
Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Thank yousgtmyers88 wrote:Glad things are looking up for you and your GSP.
he's been doing really well. his wound is almost completely healed, and he's his happy self. One thing ive noticed though is that his stomach is still black most of the time. I dont see any more potential worm bumps, but will keep an eye out. I've also noticed from watching him that his stomach turns white at night-that is, when the room is much darker if the light in his tank is out. He's an interesting little thing -
bertie 83
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
He's been through a lot so stress is to be expected, it's common for puffers to be calmer in the dark. Just bear with him and keep a close eye on him. I'm so glad it seems to be improving.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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Liliana
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- My Puffers: Two GSP in an 80 gallon tank
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- Location: Colorado
Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
bertie 83 wrote:He's been through a lot so stress is to be expected, it's common for puffers to be calmer in the dark. Just bear with him and keep a close eye on him. I'm so glad it seems to be improving.
Thank you! I'm very happy about this whole experience. I've been pretty worried for him on and off, but he seems pretty good now. I knew when he recovered from his puffing up that he was a tough thing and would push through. Puffers i've had in the past can't deal with the stress or have issues regaining control of their body and they dont puff back down and diebertie 83 wrote:He's been through a lot so stress is to be expected, it's common for puffers to be calmer in the dark. Just bear with him and keep a close eye on him. I'm so glad it seems to be improving.
Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
I think what you did was awesome. Well done. Fantastic that your fish is better and going to lead a healthier, longer life.Liliana wrote:bertie 83 wrote:He's been through a lot so stress is to be expected, it's common for puffers to be calmer in the dark. Just bear with him and keep a close eye on him. I'm so glad it seems to be improving.Thank you! I'm very happy about this whole experience. I've been pretty worried for him on and off, but he seems pretty good now. I knew when he recovered from his puffing up that he was a tough thing and would push through. Puffers i've had in the past can't deal with the stress or have issues regaining control of their body and they dont puff back down and diebertie 83 wrote:He's been through a lot so stress is to be expected, it's common for puffers to be calmer in the dark. Just bear with him and keep a close eye on him. I'm so glad it seems to be improving.
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bertie 83
- Moderator
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Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis - Location (country): Brighton, England
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Keep us updated,.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
-
Pufferpunk
- Queen Admin
- Posts: 32976
- 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: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Did you ever receive the Finquel I sent you?
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!"
"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
-
Liliana
- Puffer Fry
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:07 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Two GSP in an 80 gallon tank
- Location (country): United States
- Location: Colorado
Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Yes I did!! But I havent had to use it. It's still in the little envelope by my other fishy stuff. I received it the day that the worm actually came out of him.Pufferpunk wrote:Did you ever receive the Finquel I sent you?
Also, He's drastically improving. Each day he's been more and more white for an extended amouun of time. It makes me so happy seeing this; I barely have seem him with a white belly before now. He's been super begging though-as in, 'I'm starving feeeeeddd meeeee' but I've just been keeping on the regular schedule with him. I don't know if he's just feeling more because those parasites are gone, or what. But I will continue to keep all of you updated.
Thank you to all of you for making this possible.
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wetmartini
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
I was so happy to read that your puffer made it through OK
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Liliana
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
Yup! He's a happy little guy now. Still has this 'lump' on his spine, but I don't think it's a parasite..hasn't moved at all, and seems to be just a slight deformation on his body? Least I hope so.wetmartini wrote:I was so happy to read that your puffer made it through OK
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bertie 83
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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: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
I have to say this is a remarkable event. We all thought is was likely to be what it is, a puffer living his whole life with a worm in him. Surgery likely to end in death, shortened life by the worm staying in there etc. what a fighter you have, should be named either lucky or miracle.
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
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sgtmyers88
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Re: Green Spotted Puffer Help! Parasite?
+1 to the above.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.