The Puffer Forum

Ok guys he got better and has been fine but yesterday and today he's been sitting on the bottom of the tank and every now and then he will open his mouth wide and partially inflate for about 5 seconds. I'm treating for ip's but i dont think this has anything to do with it he aslo hasn't eaten for 2 days.

Check parameters again.

Parameters are fine, nitrate was 20 which i thought was a little on the high side so i did a water change but 3 hours later he still doesnt look to good, also it looks as if he is breathing heavily

You added an airstone?

This morning he wqas just lying on his side looks really bad. I've got a 1200lph air pump with 3 outlets in the tank so oxygen should be no problem. It looks as if some of the mucus coming of his back and his anus is now enlarged

Awww... sounds really bad. Possibly some sort if internal bacterial infection. Look here: http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/diseases.html
You can contact them too.

I'm going to put him down, he looks so stressed and its not right to continue living like this. It will crush me as i only ever lose fish to old age but it's the most humanething to do.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I have heard of fish miraculously turning around though. Puffer Queen always says: Where there is life, there is still hope. If you do decide to euthanize, use an overdose of clove oil & then feeeze the fish. I would suggest trying an autopsy in a day or so, if you can.

He has died now anyway when i came down this morning, i feel bad for not having ended it sooner

Sorry for your loss...

Sorry for your loss

I feel awful, he was such an awsome fish with such a great personality even when i have my 800 built i wil never get another mbu i could never replace this guy

Sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to loose a puffer. You can get attached to these guys so quick. Just give yourself some time, you may decided you want another one later. I almost gave up on fish when my tank broke. After crying for almost a week I decided I can't have a home without puffers. I ended up selling all my cichlids that were in the broken tank, bought a replacement tank (will be delivered on Thursday), and ordered a Fahaka puffer. I will take one puffer over 100 fish of any kind. It's going on 7 weeks that my tank broke and I'm starting to feel like a kid in a candy store again. It just takes time.

I agree. As a dog groomer, I meet a lot of folks that say they will never get a dog again after loosing their beloved pooch. I can't tell you how many call me in 6-8 weeks to groom their new pup. No, you can't replace your puffer but you can certainly learn to love another one again.

and if you do build that 800G tank, then there are many, many mbu's that need rescuing from terriblr, cramped conditions...

so maybe eventually you'll be able to help one of those...

I am sorry for your loss, although i don't think it is anything you did, or could have fixed.