The Puffer Forum

sevenyearnight wrote:Poor guy! Well good luck to you, your dog and fish.

Can't wait to hear about your new boyfriend!

HA! Thanks. (about the new BF)
I'll def. update about Puff.

Awesome, glad he's (dog) doing so well!!

Look into the raw meat diet.

Pufferpunk wrote:Look into the raw meat diet.

For the dog? I can't. Well, The vet advised against it at this point, due to so many allergies- he's allergic to practically everything.

Allergies always make diets difficult :/

That's odd, as the raw meat diet if especially recommended to animals with food allergies. Have you gotten a 2nd opinion?

Yeah, standard vets pretty much never suggest anything natural. You could google a holistic vet in your area, it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion.

Pufferpunk wrote:That's odd, as the raw meat diet if especially recommended to animals with food allergies. Have you gotten a 2nd opinion?

I have a dog with food allergies and can totally relate to Capt Dorsal Fin! Raw meat diets are hard on dogs too as the excess amount of fats in raw meats are not the best for the health and skin and they still need a variety of other things in their diets. Veggies and stuff. Along with food allergies, all you have to do is feed the dog one meal of a food they are allergic to and they will have reactions for up to 12 weeks from that meal. My dogs list of "okay" foods is much shorter than her list of "bad" foods and many raw food diets that can be purchased have a mix of meats in them usually including one or more she can't eat. OR the same machines are used to prepare the different single meat diets so there is a chance of cross contamination and the dog can have a reaction from that. Read the packaging of human food and see how many say "Processed in a plant that processes peanuts" and you will see the threat of cross contamination is taken seriously. Add to this the fact that the dog has issues with bladder stones.... I totally understand her reluctance to change the diet when she has found one that works.

I can totally relate to the doggy dilemma... mine can't get Pet Insurance either due to just her allergies. Best of luck with your four-footed friend!! Allergies can be SO aggravating when they flair up and all you can do is medicate and wait for them to run their course. My dog not only has food allergies but also environmental allergies to things like Maple trees and dandelions of all things. There are many MANY more, to many to list here.

Personally I think you could handle the puffer if you can handle the doggy issues. But the choice is yours and I am sure the wonderful people here will be more than willing to help you get his situation all straightened out if you do decide to keep him. These fish have a great personality, and there is a great wealth of information in the members here. Best of luck with your decision of keeping or re-homing him. You will do what is right for the both of you.

zookey wrote:

Pufferpunk wrote:That's odd, as the raw meat diet if especially recommended to animals with food allergies. Have you gotten a 2nd opinion?

I have a dog with food allergies and can totally relate to Capt Dorsal Fin! Raw meat diets are hard on dogs too as the excess amount of fats in raw meats are not the best for the health and skin and they still need a variety of other things in their diets. Veggies and stuff. Along with food allergies, all you have to do is feed the dog one meal of a food they are allergic to and they will have reactions for up to 12 weeks from that meal. My dogs list of "okay" foods is much shorter than her list of "bad" foods and many raw food diets that can be purchased have a mix of meats in them usually including one or more she can't eat. OR the same machines are used to prepare the different single meat diets so there is a chance of cross contamination and the dog can have a reaction from that. Read the packaging of human food and see how many say "Processed in a plant that processes peanuts" and you will see the threat of cross contamination is taken seriously. Add to this the fact that the dog has issues with bladder stones.... I totally understand her reluctance to change the diet when she has found one that works.

I can totally relate to the doggy dilemma... mine can't get Pet Insurance either due to just her allergies. Best of luck with your four-footed friend!! Allergies can be SO aggravating when they flair up and all you can do is medicate and wait for them to run their course. My dog not only has food allergies but also environmental allergies to things like Maple trees and dandelions of all things. There are many MANY more, to many to list here.

Personally I think you could handle the puffer if you can handle the doggy issues. But the choice is yours and I am sure the wonderful people here will be more than willing to help you get his situation all straightened out if you do decide to keep him. These fish have a great personality, and there is a great wealth of information in the members here. Best of luck with your decision of keeping or re-homing him. You will do what is right for the both of you.

OMG. You SOOOO understand the dog issues! lol. It is very tough having a dog with allergies! And, yes, yes, yes! It's like once you find a food that works, you're like, "YES!" lol. Thanks for the post! I was like "deep sigh of understanding!" lol

Well, I have made a decision regarding puff.
I have made the decision that at the present time, I am not equipped with the knowledge, equipment or money for puff's needs. I called the Fish Store today, and explained my situation, and they said they would gladly take him and find him a good home. I brought him, and was really sad- but in my heart, I felt like I was doing the best thing. I don't want to harm him in any way.
I actually called them about 4 hours later, and they said they won't even sell him for a bit, so I can call and check up on him- or even stop in and see him. They said they know they won't even put him to be "sold" till after this weekend so he has some time to get used to the tank there. They wrote "hold" on his tank in dry erase marker. They said they then ask that the person checks their water at home and gets it as close to the levels that they have at the store. (Like the levels you were talking about here.) They seemed like really nice people, who knew what they were talking about.
I think I will stick around some... learn from some of the other boards, so that maybe in hopes I can own a puffer some day. The guy at the store showed me Figure 8 puffers, and pea puffers (they were REALLY cute), but I definitely need to learn more and wait for some extra funds... maybe my tax return! But, I feel good knowing puff is in a better place.
Thanks for all your help guys/gals... and know that this decision wasn't easy. Now, I have all this frozen food! Maybe I'll donate it to that fish store if they could use it.

I'm glad you are doing the right thing by your puffer. That store sounds wonderful & I know you will make a fantastic puffermom when you're ready!

Yes, please stick around, post about anything, ask lots of Qs & let us know when you've dumped that %^&*#@ boyfriend!

I'm really glad you had such a good fish store nearby and that you can check up on him!

The great thing about pea puffers is they are small and you keep ~ 2 per a 10g. be sure not both males though, and they are a freshwater species so no salt cost. Thats just some info, I think if money is an issue than its a great species to get(compared to other puffs).

greenspottedlover wrote:The great thing about pea puffers is they are small and you keep ~ 2 per a 10g. be sure not both males though, and they are a freshwater species so no salt cost. Thats just some info, I think if money is an issue than its a great species to get(compared to other puffs).

They are adorable! How can you tell male/female apart? I'm sure I can ask the store I took puff to- but I was wondering if you knew? So, they are not a BW fish? That would be a good fish then! Are they difficult to care for? I have a 10 gallon, do they need snails as well? I'm thinking they might be what I go for. Small, and sweet. I want to learn BEFORE i buy though.

I forgot to say, at this point, I have 2 10 gallon full set ups. (tank, filters, hoods, lights, decor.)