The Puffer Forum

Not a problem! I knew my course would come in handy somehow!

And all was not wasted during the Parasitology section of my Lab procedures unit.

Makes me feel all warm n fuzzy

Another mention: Proglottids are like little time capsules. They're meant to withstand bombardments of medications and poisons and all sorts of environmental stuff. hence why you have to do preventative doses every 3 months even when non symptomatic, especially puffers since they DO eat crustatians and mollusks. (Intermediary tapeworm host)

Proglottids are kindof like...flea cocoons. You can flea bomb the crap out of your house, move out for 10 years, then come back, and have the worst flea infestation you have ever had before leaving. Why? Conditions were right for the flea to emerge. Same with Proglottids. Just takes one snail that escapes the eye of the puffer and the owner going "Meh, he'll find it some day..no big" and you get yourself a new tapeworm infestation.

pandora, are you a vet then? Or a trainee doctor... or.... ?

My parasitology class is coming back to me as well, lol

t1gerbee wrote:pandora, are you a vet then? Or a trainee doctor... or.... ?

Learning to be a vet assistant.

My long term goal:

Get a job as an assistant, then upgrade my education to Technician level, then work as a technician and take Marine Biology and vetrinary courses at university until finished, or whatever..no huge rush.

Ok guys need your opion. Another 3 inches came out. I put her in the net turned her over and was pushing on her anus area. This "HUGE" white glob/ring poped out then more worm came out with it. I douth that was the head but I don't know what the head would look like. She still has a lump on her tummy and her anus is still open. Once I let her out of the net she swam around for a little while and now she's resting again.

What the heck was that white blob? It was about this big: O and thick, coming out I could see that it made a circle but once it was out it was just a blob the size of the smiles.

Seriously is this thing going to kill her?

Updated picture.

Pufferpunk wrote:
Personally, since she's not looking thin I wouldn't force-feed her. She full of worms & probably has no room for food. Keep treating her, it's working. How's the ich?

I think you were right it's not ich. I guess I just paniced when I saw those spots on her. I'm not really sure what it was but it's gone now. If it was ich I don't think it would have gone away that fast. So far I've counted at least 12" of worm. I can't believe I didn't notice it before. I feel awful. I tried feeding her again tonight and she's still not eating. She totally ignores the food. Even when I put it right in front of her.

Tapeworm head magnified


Tapeworm head unmagnified

Holy crap that thing is creepy!

you don't wanna know what it's head was somewhat described as during parasitology in lab procedures.

You won't look at what's in your pants the same ever again....

I remember having to memorize and be able to ID their eggs. Happily, I can't remember any of it

Sounds like a head but there might be more lthan 1 in there. Sounds like it... Poor thing! She's hanging in there though.

I just checked on Annabelle, she's not swimming around this morning. I put her in the net and checked her anus. It's slightly open and there was less than an inch of worm coming out. Now she's back on the bottom and not moving. I'm doing a water change right now. I noticed that the same eye is starting to cloud up again. I'm afraid of a secondary infection. Should I treat her again with prazipro or should I start another melafix treatment?
I'm not sure she's going to make it. Still refusing food.

I was about to task how she was getting on.
hope she pulls through.

they say it's always darkest before the dawn...
come on annabelle....you can do it young lady.....your mom is working, worrying, and doing the best she can.....you can do this....come on little girl......

edmlfc1- You are a proud and dedicated puffer owner. keep up the good work!! good luck annabelle!!