The Puffer Forum

He really is refusing - I whipped him around by his tail pretty good.

Try to find that thread here about this happening to another puffer. It sounds very familiar... I don't think it ended well though.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21714&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... p&start=30

that one? Started with what looks like ich and it was air filled?

Try Epsom salt, 1 tbsp/10g & then tomorrow, add the same amount again.

That sure is intestinal and not trapped air. Clams can carry a lot of different bacterias although rare for them to cause problems, it looks like you may be on the unfortunate end of finding a batch that did. The bacteria themselves are just the indirect cause of the problem because they give off an endotoxin and depending on the bacteria the effects can range from simple loose stools to major intestinal swelling to systemic reactions.

I fear your Fahaka has a combination of the last two. Epsom salt, like PufferPunk said, is probably the best approach to hopefully get everything out of his digestive tract and the next is praying. It looks like he got hit pretty hard by it.

The Epsom salt should be OK with the Melafix but definitely add an air stone and have carbon on hand to make sure.

That is what I really thought -- Turgidus dying and now Fahaka is trying to die on me. It really had to be some "bad food"

Can I buy epsom salt at a Walmart/Target out of the bathing area or where is the best place?

I looked at him this morning. He had not moved that I could tell from 8 hrs ago. Lump is still there.

Have you tried Melafix / antibiotic yet?, he still has infection he needs treating

He has been in Melafix almost the entire time since I noticed he's been sick. I re-dose the tank daily per the bottle's instructions.

jnheinz wrote:He has been in Melafix almost the entire time since I noticed he's been sick. I re-dose the tank daily per the bottle's instructions.

This sounds real bad man real bad, I had a one dogface puffer that just died on me due to v.poor water quality, and as he get worse he eventually became brain died and was just lying there breathing and not doing anything else.

Its only really worth treating him at this point if hes still aware of his surroundings, check to see if his brain is still active by concentrating on his eye movement! Run your finger along the glass to try get his attention watch for his eye following your finger or any real eye movement if it does then that means hes still very much alive and keep treating him, if not it maybe too late. As you said hes not been eating for 2 weeks .... IDK what else to say

*Vulgarity gotten around our word censor, edited out by PP*

My test every day has been shining a flashlight on him and then tapping on the glass - He is reacting to light movement as well as vibrations. I don't believe he is brain dead at this point. I was really interested in treating with salt from the beginning, but you guys had me moving him out of his little tank. That was the wrong type of salt though.

Epsom salt is at home, girlfriend got it during the day. I will try it tonight as directed in this topic. I will probably give him until Friday evening to show some forward progress. At that point, he would be without food for 3 weeks and I am torturing him in my mind. I would euthanize at that point. I just can't give up on the poor guy quite yet.

Yeah epsom "salt" is magnesium sulfate, it's not a salt, just looks like one.
Where salt retains, magnesium sulfate expels.

And is fine to use in his main tank. Please don't move him to a small uncycled tank. the stress alone will do him in.

I feel so bad for your puffer, I really hope he makes it. Im becoming more and more attached to Fahaka puffers, I think when I could I would get one. Theyre so beautiful and energetic. Its sad that youre having to struggle with this.

Feels like my dog is dying. Knock on wood. The epsom salt is now in.. 1tbsp/10gal.

He hasn't moved much in 12 hours. He is looking around a lot more I can tell. Lump is still there. I'm sure his eye stuck in the gravel looks pretty icky, but I can't really do anything about that. We'll see how 12 hours with the salt does.. I have a good feeling about it. Constipation may be the issue.

It wouldn't really be "constipation" per se. A bad portion of food could have caused the bloating from the build up of gases in the intestines. This will help pass that and or possibly pass the air, which ever it happens to be.

You may still have to massage the stomach a bit to help it along.