The Puffer Forum

Yes, we do but I'd like to avoid it if possible. If there's no improvement in 3 days then we may have to euthanize. We have to do a lot of thinking about where to draw the line. Do we euthanize if he isn't better or set up his own small tank where he can live out his days. But then what if he's in pain and just isn't showing it? We could give him his own small tank as long as he's comfortable, I don't want to cause prolonged suffering.

I wouldn't think driftwood hard enough to do brain damage.

That's true, it's not even the hard heavy stuff (like mopani).

I have never heard of any Val toxicity. As it is my commonest plant, you would think that I would have run into it - all my FW puffers other tan DPs have had it in their tanks. And puffer bites were standard from their harvesting dark-cycle snails added to their tanks.

That's good to hear. We didn't like them much anyways It was an easy decision.

He's still out and about this morning but he's wasting away (fast). It's like he's experiencing rapid muscle atrophy. His body is thinner all over today than it has ever been. He's hiding a bit more. When someone goes to the tank they'll all come out front and beg for food (heck, all you have to do is look at the tank) and he isn't coming out for food. He just keeps swimming in the back of the tank. It does not appear that the big male is bothering him at all. He just ignores him now.

I wonder if puffers get cancer?

I'll bet they can. He's continuing to do worse. Still eating well but he's wasting away quickly and it looks like it's more and more work for him to move around. He was able to eat his fill just now and we'll terminate him with a lethal dose of MS-222 tonight (and then we'll freeze him in that water just to be sure). He's so thin and exhausted. After eating he just lay on the bottom right in the feeding area. He's still completely alert and perky in the way that he can be. He watches us and like I mentioned, he's eating well. He's so worn out though. It's time before he gets worse. Thankfully the other puffers aren't bothering him at all and he was able to eat a nice big meal.

He's just getting worse though so we're going to give him the last Christmas present we can

So sad to see that happen to what seems a perfectly healthy fish.

Very sad. He's a great little puffer. I just got home, one of my dogs was very ill, he's doing better now but he's on painkillers. I don't know if the painkillers are masking the situation. I spent 4 hours laying on the floor with him as I couldn't stand to leave his side.

It's not a nice way to end Christmas unfortunately.

awww that sucks... Was Kyle with you?

Yeah but he ended up having to leave. We have too much to do. I stayed until my mom got home and had a chance to check him over. We're hoping for some severely pulled muscles. The other thing that comes to mind is an intestinal blockage and he's already had a serious one, he's getting older, and that surgery would be very expensive. He was acting very crazy and hyper earlier so the muscle issue is definitely possible.

Poor doggie!

Did you euthanize the Puffer?

Yes, he went very quickly, in under 2 seconds.

Sorry to hear that..you did the right thing..