The Puffer Forum

Pufferpunk wrote:How did that go? What foods did you get into him? Added vitamins?

It went pretty well when I left the house this morning he was hanging out at the bottom like he always does.
I have been going home at lunch to check on him so we will see later today.

We diced up a shrimp since it was easy to get into the syringe.
Tried looking at pet smart for the vitechem but they were out so that's my first stop after work.

I have clams at the house that I could use instead of shrimp I might alternate.

I'd also add a source of B vitamins. If you do a search, Puffer Queen has a good recipe.

Pufferpunk wrote:I'd also add a source of B vitamins. If you do a search, Puffer Queen has a good recipe.

I was reading pufferqueens recipe

Dexter is about 12" - 14" long
You think 1/4 pill of B12 dissolved in diced shrimp would work?

Sounds good. See if you also get FW Vita-Chem or Zoe liquid vitamins to mix in there.

Pufferpunk wrote:Sounds good. See if you also get FW Vita-Chem or Zoe liquid vitamins to mix in there.

Well the only update I have is his color looks better. He swims a little about 3 inches above the bottom of the tank during the day when I am not at home. (Found this out from girlfriend)
But when I get home after work he is hanging out in the corner and doesn't move all night. We have had two tube feedings now. One without vitamins and then one with vitamins
When he does swim its almost like he is partially blind from the way he swims. Bumps into everything and runs into the glass.. This is not the same fish he once was

At this point we feel like we have done everything we can, we are trying to figure out are we being cruel or should we just let natures take its course or put him down?
Here is a Before and After Shot
Before he got sick on the left and Now on the right

Water parameters?

Pufferpunk wrote:Water parameters?

API Liquid Test Kit
PH 7.6
Ammonia 0PPM (would have a picture of this but only have 3 vials)
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0 - 5 ppm

Dexter as of 11-2

Water as of 11-2

The reason I ask is that is a sign of nitrite poisoning. Guess not then...
He certainly doesn't look like he's starving.

Temp?

scpion wrote:Temp?

80 degrees

Tripp wrote:

scpion wrote:Temp?

80 degrees

Ok.. seems fine. Mine was acting in a similar way when its too hot over here.

I appreciate all the help on this. Where we stand as of this morning..

Over the weekend he literally didn't move for 48 hours. Twice I thought he had passed away but then he moved his eyes ever so slightly.
Still hasn't eaten anything.
Still same coloring that he has in the picture a few posts back.
Last night I dimmed the lights down and about an hour later he finally moved.
He belly surfed the entire length of the tank only to run into the rocks and the side of the tank.
He turned around and started riding the current but you can tell he cant see.
Or at least very well.

Could he be partially blind as a result of being impacted?
Anything thoughts on this would be great..

I have had several blind fish, and have one blind goldfish cull now who is pretty old. Blind predators generally require careful hand feeding. Blind omnivores tend to learn feeding sites that are always used and detect food in the water and swim directly to the feeding spot when food is added. Keeping the decor in place long-tern is good - the fish do learn their way around quite well. Blind fish obviously cannot compete well, so should be housed alone.

It is possible that he just has developed really bad vision (like me!) or has gone blind naturally, which would explain his poor eating habits lately.

Pufferpunk wrote:It is possible that he just has developed really bad vision (like me!) or has gone blind naturally, which would explain his poor eating habits lately.

So I need puffer glasses? Contact lenses? Cataract Surgery?