Swelling in throat, not eating
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.
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Just a quick update - I've been treating with baths per Corvus's advice for 6 days. By day 2 the swelling had stopped growing - but has not yet gone down. Poor guy still hasn't eaten but has strength and somehow doesn't seem as stressed as he should be. I've also dropped the specific gravity to 1.017 and added an extra airstone near his spot in the tank. I briefly thought of tube-feeding but since he is still pretty strong I figured the stress would not be worth it. Basically, keeping my fingers crossed.
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yunachin
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
I hope that he can get better. I have been thinking of him. 
E.Ridgeway
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Myaj
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
That is progress!
Puffers can often go several weeks without eating, so I'd wait a bit longer on the tube feeding and see if the swelling goes down. I'd hate to see you damage something trying to squeeze a tube past the lump.
Puffers can often go several weeks without eating, so I'd wait a bit longer on the tube feeding and see if the swelling goes down. I'd hate to see you damage something trying to squeeze a tube past the lump.
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Another update - for the first time since this began Biscuit went after some food. He can get it in his mouth but can't swallow, he just wound up spitting it out. But he was enthusiastic, going after some clam and then mysis. I was a little bummed that he couldn't get the mysis down but quite happy to see him finally try and eat. I'll take it as a good sign. Just need the swelling to go down I think. Good call Myaj, I'm very glad I didn't try to force feed him
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Corvus
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Do you do the baths daily?
What antibiotic are you using?
Have you used an antithelmic (de-wormer)?
If he starts eating again or at least having the food in his mouth, I'd soak the food in vitamins.
Good luck!
What antibiotic are you using?
Have you used an antithelmic (de-wormer)?
If he starts eating again or at least having the food in his mouth, I'd soak the food in vitamins.
Good luck!
Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks.
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Hi Corvus,
I have been doing the baths daily for 6 days, gave him a rest on the 7th. I'm using Maracyn 2. The instructions define a full course as treating on day 1, 3 and 5, but that is only for treating the whole tank. I'm assuming 6 days at concentrated doses for 45 mins. is roughly equivalent, but am open to any input. I was unable to find an antithelmic at the 3 local fish stores I've been to here so I've ordered Praziquantel online. It has yet to arrive
. I am going to start soaking the food in vitamins too, thank you for your help.
Mike
I have been doing the baths daily for 6 days, gave him a rest on the 7th. I'm using Maracyn 2. The instructions define a full course as treating on day 1, 3 and 5, but that is only for treating the whole tank. I'm assuming 6 days at concentrated doses for 45 mins. is roughly equivalent, but am open to any input. I was unable to find an antithelmic at the 3 local fish stores I've been to here so I've ordered Praziquantel online. It has yet to arrive
. I am going to start soaking the food in vitamins too, thank you for your help.Mike
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Corvus
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Sounds very good, what you are doing!
I hope it helps and turns out useful in the end.
I hope it helps and turns out useful in the end.
Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks.
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
well. . . wish I had good news, but Biscuit still can't get any food down and is not even trying as hard as he was. I believe he is starting to suffer from the malnutrition and his breathing has become a little more labored. His gills appear inflamed as well. I'm starting to think euthanasia, or possibly surgery. I can't believe I'm considering operating on him, I'm pretty squeamish. Guess I really want to try everything, so I'm considering knocking him out with clove oil, trying to excise whatever is blocking his throat and getting him back in the tank. I'll have a stronger concentration of clove oil handy in case I can't remove the blockage to end any suffering before it begins. I'm not terribly optimistic about my surgical abilities. Think I'll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.
I'd like to thank everybody for their help and concern. I've learned quite a bit through this experience, mostly here.
Mike
I'd like to thank everybody for their help and concern. I've learned quite a bit through this experience, mostly here.
Mike
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
I was just thinking about the logistics of everything when it struck me: Sweet as he is, Biscuit is toxic and I have no QT. Cutting him open and returning him to the tank seems like a grave disservice to the other residents.
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j_wishbone
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Oh man.. sorry it got you to this point!
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Agnate
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
I was under the impression that only Boxfish will nuke a tank with toxins? I could be very wrong about this, of course.
Sorry to hear it's not going well. I did hear of a person you used to do operations on their fish all the time. Apparently fish are very durable when it comes to being cut open. I'm likely as squeamish as you are, so I wouldn't even know where to start!
Sorry to hear it's not going well.
I did hear of a person you used to do operations on their fish all the time. Apparently fish are very durable when it comes to being cut open. I'm likely as squeamish as you are, so I wouldn't even know where to start!Did our staff successfully help you? The Puffer Forum is an incredible resource and is run completely on the donations of its viewers. Proceeds from the Puffer Forum store go towards future contests and keeping the site running. Donations may also be made via PayPal.
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40 gallon - Future home of Abei Puffer
28 gallon - 1 Abei Puffer (Captain Abe)
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
I'm not sure if he'll nuke the tank or not - it just struck me as a potential concern. Especially because he'll have an open wound. I've found a few accounts of people operating on their fish but no mention of potential toxicity post-op. Anybody have any idea?
Even if he wouldn't I'm still don't know if I can cut him open. It's an awful big lump, comprising approx. 10-15% of his mass. Seems like recovery is a long shot at best. All I know is that I'm going to have to do something soon.
Even if he wouldn't I'm still don't know if I can cut him open. It's an awful big lump, comprising approx. 10-15% of his mass. Seems like recovery is a long shot at best. All I know is that I'm going to have to do something soon.
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yunachin
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- Location: SC
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
I know nothing about surgery, but you can try and contact Puffer Queen at Marine Depot.com
She is extremely knowledgeable in fish disease and may be able to help you with the surgery aspect if you decide that is what is best. I hope he takes a turn for the better.
She is extremely knowledgeable in fish disease and may be able to help you with the surgery aspect if you decide that is what is best. I hope he takes a turn for the better.
E.Ridgeway
Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
just an update if anybody is curious. Sorry for the delay, I had to re-install my OS and it has taken awhile to find all the drivers that I had to install. Biscuit still can't eat and I will euthanize him tonight or tomorrow. He's starting to suffer from starvation and I think it's time to let him go. I'd like to thank everyone for their genuine concern and thoughtful advice. Because of you I feel as though I was able to give every effort to try and help him. Thank you.
Mike
Mike
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Corvus
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Re: Swelling in throat, not eating
Sorry to hear that.
Did you consider tube feeding?
Did you get advice from PufferQueen?
Did you consider tube feeding?
Did you get advice from PufferQueen?
Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks.