The Puffer Forum

Here are new pictures of my sick puffer.

The kanamycin (three doses) doesn't seem to have helped.

1. Does kanamycin work in almost all cases of bacterial infection? Does it just not work in severe cases?
2. Is it possible that the identification of the infection as bacterial was incorrect?
3. What is the drooping bump in the puffer's stomach?
4. Do you have any other recommendations/suggestions?

I am considering euthanizing with clove oil. Please let me know how (please be detailed). Alternatively, please refer me to detailed instructions.

Put into a container with tank water. A Coolwhip container will do. Take a dropper full of clove oil & squirt into container w/fish. Leave for at least 20 minutes. Freeze fish with water, in freezer.

I'm very sorry.

Can anyone please answer the questions posted prior to my question about euthanizing?

"A dropper full of clove oil?" How much is that? About 3 ml? I don't want to knock it out dead in an overwhelming whirl of naseating numbness. I want it to happen slowly. How many ml approx?

1. Does kanamycin work in almost all cases of bacterial infection? Does it just not work in severe cases?

I dont have a lot of experience with this medication, but if you've done the full dosage and there has been absolutely no improvement, and infact worsened, it's safe to say it's ineffective.

2. Is it possible that the identification of the infection as bacterial was incorrect?

It could be bacterial, it could be fungal, it's hard to say.

3. What is the drooping bump in the puffer's stomach?

It could be bloat due to the illness, he could be partially puffed from stress.

4. Do you have any other recommendations/suggestions?

No, i'm sorry. If he's breathing hard and not moving much and looking generally sick and ill, euthanizing may be the most humane option right now.

as for the clove oil...

One drop from an eye dropper is ~ 1ml.
3mls is used for normal tooth trimming anesthesia.
10ml would be enough for coma-like sleep.

If you wanted to go very gradually, you could add 3ml to the water to begin with, add the puffer, and then add a couple drops after he's fallen asleep to ensure complete deep sleep.

It's the freezing that is fatal, not the clove oil itself. The clove oil only puts them to sleep.

Once again, very sorry you have to go through this. You've tried very hard with this fish, but sometimes they just aren't healhty when we get them and there isn't much we can do for them. At the very least you've learnt a lot about keeping puffers and that will help you next time around. He was a very beautiful specimen and it's a shame he's so sick.

Believe me, overdose of CO will kill the fish. It will go to sleep slowly & become unconcious. If you want to sedate 1st, then just use the dose of 1 drop/cup & then put the rest in, after it's sleeping. I freeze, just to make sure...

I'm so sorry nothing has helped your puffer. Hang in there...

I can't believe it's spread so far. Can a vet fix this by injection of oxytetracycline? Or is there no point in waiting until tomorrow?

OKAY--now are you sure, in all your puffer-keeping experience, that this is not reversible?

That last post was posted out of desperation; I realise it was unnecessary, and that I already knew the likely answer to my question.

Thank you all for your assistance. The puffer has been euthanized.

I am sure you did the right thing. He definately looked like he was suffering. You did all you could. He had a painless death.

Sorry buddy

Really sorry mate =|

-Pyratt Pete

Did you try Maracyn-TC?

That is THE strongest medicine for bacterial infections on the market. It is used in people as well!