The Puffer Forum

I have on numerous occasions. What specific questions can I help with?

Definitely try to use anesthesia on the bigger puffers as I have had them bite the feeding tube in half. Also if they are relaxed, it is less stressful and they are less likely to regurgitate/vomit.

Feed about 2 - 4% of body weight. If it has been a while since the puffer has eaten, start at the low end as the stomach will not be able to accomodate the larger volume. Feed a high protein diet enriched with vitamins and beta glucan. Might consider adding kanamycin. I have a puffer that did the same and actually had what appeared to be a granuloma. I treated with kanamycin daily for a month and it returned to 'normal' - this does NOT confirm the eradication of myco but ???

I'm afraid I need complete instructions. I've tube-fed Seahorses more times than I can count but their anatomy is so different from Puffers.

What size tube is needed? How far does it need to be inserted? Does the food need to be mashed into gruel? What food have you used most often?

My tube-feeding supplies include Beta-Glucan capsules, Phytoplan, Cod Live Oil, 1cc syringes, 0.1cc tuberculin syringes, tiny catheters/cannulas, mortar/pestles, mini-blender.

Would Erythromycin powder be an suitable substitute for Kanamycin? Other antibiotics I have on hand are Neomycin liquid, Neomycin Sulfate powder, Tetracycline Hydrochloride powder, Triple Sulfa powder, and Nitrofurazone powder.

He's snubbed every live and frozen food I've offered. You name it, he's turned his nose up at it. I risked my fingers last night trying to force bits of salad shrimp into his mouth. No go. He just kept spitting it out.

Thanks for the help.

Feathers&Fins wrote:Well, I'm losing another one. My adult red T.miurus of ~3yrs. He hasn't eaten in two months and is wasting away. I'm guessing the Myco is kicking in. I've checked his teeth and they aren't overgrown or broken but he has a weak bite. PP, PQ, have either of you ever force-fed a Puffer?

I do not have experience with this type of puffer.

Erythromycin is not a substitute for kanamycin - different drug categories and different coverages.

In a limited study, kanamycin was used to treat mycobacterium.

With tube feeding, use a small tube - 5 french feeding tube, the extension tubing on the butterfly phlebotomy set.......

Measure from mouth to imaginary spot just behind the gills and mark the tube as a guide to how far to insert.

For what to feed - whatever is "normal" for this type of puffer. I often will use cyclopeeze with my saltwater puffers. Blenderize/puree to make sure the food goes through whatever tube you are using.

I tried feeding him a scallop last night. He just bit a chunk off and spit it out.

I'll order the Kanamycin and swing by the vet's today for the tubing.

I'll check out the nutritional profiles on some of my frozen foods to see if any of them are high in protein. Would using a food he is not accustomed to eating stress his system? I was thinking about using a processed high protein pellet/wafer.

Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate the help.

Vitamin B12 might stimulate the puffers appetite.

I tube-fed the T.miurus. The Finquel (MS-222) did not work very well for me. He was sedated to the point that he didn't respond to visual stimuli and he stayed on his back when flipped over. However, when I inserted the feeding tube he started thrashing around violently. It took several attempts before the feeding was successful.


Normally, this fish keeps a very good weight when fed every 10 days. Due to his recent illness he is underweight. How often should he be tube-fed?

The T.miurus has been very active the past couple of days, swimming around and begging for food. He readily snaps up the food, unfortunately, he spits it right back out. Other than it being a comment on my culinary talent, I'm not sure what to make of this behavior or how to overcome it. ????

Any update on the mbu?

No Mbu in the household. I'd love to have one though.

I tried to post an update a little while ago but I'm pretty sure the forum upgrades were still being tweaked. He had been doing very well and gained back most, if not all, of the weight he lost. I was a happy keeper. Then, he stopped eating again a little over a week ago and is loosing weight again. Same thing as before… he takes a bite or two of food, then spits it all out. Tonight I tried cockle meat, shrimp, and Pollock. He just patooey-ied it right back at me. I guess I'll have to break out the tube-feeding equipment again if he doesn't snap out of it.