The Puffer Forum

I would like to post a picture but he doesn't turn...and my camera isn't a good one so i guess i will borrow from someone, i will see what can i do~

If he had a larger wound, I would advise using Melafix AND Pimafix. Melafix helps with the healing process by speeding it up a bit, and Pimafix will help protect against secondary fungal infections.

How does his stomach look? My guess is that it's a combination of the wound on his tail and the ammonia/nitrite that are causing him grief.

Like Pufferpunk said, I would get a second tank set up and start emergency cycling it (don't move the puffer yet). Once you're sure the tank is cycled (Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate: between 5 to 15), then move the puffer over.

Pictures would also definitely help, so I'll wait until we see those to suggest anything else.

thanks Agnate. I will go to the fish shop and look for those medicines. his stomach is curved in a bit but i'm not too sure whether it's because his read fin curved up so cause this problem since his read fin doesn't seem to function well. i will go to fish shop and get those medicine ASAP.

It your congo's belly is curved in a bit, it might be internal parasites. Please try to get some pics! It'd be super helpful if we can see what you're seeing!

Hi I bought the melafix and put it in the tank. do I still need to do water change everyday? because on the description it says i will dose for 7 days to do a water change. and maybe his stomach is a bit curved in so if i buy medicine for IP, which brand would you recommend? and does congo need to eat it? he doesn't seems to eat at all. i bought some ghost shrimp and put the congo into the breeding case with ghost shrimp in but congo doesn't eat at all...i'm not too sure what to do now...

Definitely keep doing the water changes. Don't worry about the Melafix directions where the water changes are concerned.

First thing about the IPs: be sure he does have them. If he doesn't, the meds will just make things worse. A picture of his belly would help us to help you make sure.

If you're going to treat for IPs, you really need to get a hospital tank, or another display tank. You need another display anyway for the Congo. I would get a 40g for the red-eyes, since they're a pair and need maximum space to prevent conflict, and keep the Congo in the 22 until you can get a bigger tank for him. The reason: you want to avoid getting meds into the healthy fish. It's not good for them. You can leave them together if you can get the puffer to eat the meds, but it sounds like this won't happen, since he's already refusing food. Therefore, you will probably have to treat the water, which will affect all inhabitants.

The best brands of IP meds are...
1. Gel-Tek Ultra Cure PX - taste is appealing to fish, unlike most meds, and seems to be extremely effective. However, some people have had trouble getting ahold of it. Look for it online, as well as at the LFS.
2. PraziPro seems to be quite good. It's hard to get the fish to eat it, so it usually has to just go in the water, but this is probably what you'll have to do anyway.
Some other types...
3. I used Jungle brand Parasite Gaurd. It worked for me, but not everyone likes it, and it only goes in the water, though I suppose that you could try soaking food in it. It does have praziquantel in it, which is the main ingredient in PraziPro. If you get this, don't worry about the medicated food mentioned in the directions. They won't eat it anyway. Puffers just don't go for that sort of food, in general.
4. Jungle Parasite Clear fizz tabs also get good reviews in general, but, once again, these must be added to the water, although some some people have had success with soaking food as well.

Finally, remember this: don't underdose IP meds. If you do this, some worms may survive, and these will be resistant to the meds, and then you'll have to use another brand, with different ingredients.

Thanks everyone for all the help.
I just checked the water

ammonia 0
nitrite 0~0.25
nitrate 10

which i still need to get rid off nitrite

i tried to take some pictures but it's too blurry which the picture you can't see anything at all.
i'm looking for the tank these days and hope i will get some luck on those.

Just keep those water changes up!

I just did the water change again and congo was moving extremely fast, i think he was frighten. but at least i know he is still alive which is better than before since he moves a lot more than past couple days. i put in the melafix and prime in the water and thanks for the help so far, you guys are really helpful, thanks a lot.

Good to hear that he's more active!

How is he doing?

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry to say that congo passed away last Sunday morning. the tank water was fine but the fungas attacked the tank then he died couple days later with white hairy attached on his body. the red eyes also died from this disease...

I'm really sorry to hear that. What was the fungus?

I'm sorry.

Hi katty,

it was mouth and body fungas. I think the reason it's because i putted in some feeder snails hoping they would be happy and the water got polluted...they died with ick and fungas on their body.
there was a bit of nitrite and i wasn't sure why...but anyway i'm really sorry